PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget for 2027 is crucial to the country's long-term development trajectory.
"More than a financial plan, it is a strategic investment in the Filipino people and in our country's future," the president said in his message following the submission of the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House of Representatives.
"By emphasizing measurable outcomes, institutional reforms, and long-term value creation, the proposed 2027 national budget serves as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive national development," Marcos said.
He said the 2027 NEP "represents a prudent and forward-looking investment that sustains economic growth while remaining firmly consistent with our fiscal consolidation agenda." Marcos added that the budget would strengthen the government's capacity to invest in strategic infrastructure, human capital, food and energy security, and social protection, while reinforcing transparency, accountability, and the efficient use of public resources.
"What distinguishes this expenditure program is its deliberate focus on transformative reforms that will shape the country's long-term development trajectory," the president said.
"Beyond funding government programs, this budget seeks to modernize public institutions, improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, attract greater investments, create quality jobs, and enhance the government's ability to deliver faster, more responsive, and citizen-centered public services. It translates our priorities into concrete action, ensuring that every public resource contributes to stronger institutions, greater economic opportunities, and better quality of life for every Filipino," Marcos added.
The House of Representatives received the copy of the NEP on Monday.
House Speaker Faustino Dy III said it would be subjected to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that every peso will be spent for the benefit of all Filipinos.
The P7.2 trillion budget is 6 percent, or P407 billion, higher than the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
Under the 2027 NEP, Basic Education, as provided by law, has the biggest allocation in the Top 10 recipients with P976 billion. It is followed by Public Works (P644 billion), Health (P353.8 billion), Interior and Local Government (P332.5 billion), Defense (P328.8 billion), Transportation (P302.2 billion), Agriculture (P261.7 billion), Social Welfare (P241.6 billion), Higher Education (P176.5 billion), and Judiciary (P86.3 billion).
Of the total allocation for public works, P107.4 billion was earmarked for flood control intended for the maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and improvement of existing infrastructure.
Marcos, after exposing anomalies linked to billions worth of flood control projects in July 2025, ordered the scrapping of allocations for locally funded flood control projects in the 2026 national budget.
In June, Malacañang announced that previously halted flood control projects may still be included in the proposed 2027 NEP pending their validation and actual need for completion.
