Thirteen House of Representatives members opposed the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 on Monday, Oct. 12, citing concerns about government spending priorities, transparency and the distribution of public funds.
The House passed House Bill No. 10858 on third and final reading, with 281 lawmakers voting in favor, 13 against and one abstaining.
Those who voted against the measure were Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Egay Erice, Cebu City 1st District Rep. Rachel Del Mar, Kamanggagawa Rep. Eli San Fernando, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Akbayan Reps. Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno and Dadah Kiram Ismula, Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago, Albay 1st District Rep. Krisel Lagman, and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio.
Tiangco questioned the House’s transparency in scrutinizing its own spending, particularly a ₱5-billion increase approved by the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc), which raised the chamber’s proposed budget to ₱28.37 billion. He argued that Congress should uphold the same transparency standards it expects government agencies to follow.
Del Mar opposed the budget after the proposed infrastructure funding for her district was reduced by more than half, from ₱1.3 billion in 2026 to ₱492 million in 2027. She also questioned the reported non-release of ₱280 million allocated in 2025 and another ₱643 million for 2026, expressing concern over delays in drainage, flood-control and other essential infrastructure projects in her flood-prone Cebu City district.
San Fernando said the budget failed to address people’s needs and lacked transparency. He also described the House’s BARSc hearing as “scripted.”
Erice questioned the substantial allocations for public works amid ongoing corruption controversies. He also criticized what he described as politically driven budget distribution that could benefit allies of the administration.
De Lima criticized the budget’s focus on financial assistance programs, warning that these could foster political patronage, while Diokno questioned allocations for education and other essential services. Cendaña raised concerns about funding for health care and public transportation, while Ismula criticized what she considered insufficient health care funding.
Tinio alleged that ₱100.44 billion of the ₱116.32 billion in amendments approved by BARSc on Oct. 1 and 2 involved pork barrel-type allocations, including infrastructure projects, financial assistance programs and other discretionary funds. He called for the disclosure of project details, proponents and allocation criteria, warning that the funds could be susceptible to political influence.
The House-approved budget will now undergo deliberations in the Senate. Any differences between the versions passed by the two chambers will be reconciled before the final spending measure is submitted to the President.
