The Senate welcomed the signing of the ₱6.793 trillion 2026 national budget after President Bongbong Marcos vetoed nearly ₱92.5 billion worth of projects under unprogrammed appropriations, a move senators said strengthened safeguards against political patronage.
Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto said the veto reinforced provisions pushed by the chamber during budget deliberations. “I know the 2026 budget is by far the cleanest ever but it seems the President wants it squeaky clean. He even highlighted the Senate provision that prevents political patronage by politicians,” Sotto said. “Malinis yun budget pero gusto ni PBBM mas malinis pa.”
Senator Erwin Tulfo vice chair of the Senate finance committee, welcomed the veto and said limiting unprogrammed appropriations was necessary to protect public funds. Tulfo earlier questioned the ₱243 billion initially lodged under unprogrammed appropriations during bicameral talks, warning that large discretionary pools could be prone to misuse. He said the President’s action was a step toward accountability and stressed the need to ensure projects funded under the budget are completed and meet standards.
Education received the largest share of the 2026 budget, with Senator Bam Aquino citing a ₱1.34 trillion allocation for the sector. Aquino said the approved budget would fund new classrooms, expand feeding programs, and sustain free college education.
“Panalo ang kabataang Pilipino ngayong naaprubahan na ang 2026 national budget. Sa pamamagitan nito, mapopondohan na at maipatutupad nang tama ang mga mahahalagang programang makatutulong upang mapalakas at mapabuti ang sektor ng edukasyon,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the budget includes ₱68 billion for classroom construction, ₱25.6 billion for the school based feeding program, and ₱67 billion for the continued implementation of free tertiary education under Republic Act 10931. “May pondo na para sa pagpapatayo ng mga silid aralan, dagdag na budget para sa school based feeding program at libreng kolehiyo, at iba pang mahahalagang suporta para sa mga mag aaral upang matiyak na mas maayos silang makakapag aral,” he added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said only ₱150.905 billion under unprogrammed appropriations remained after the veto, covering funding for foreign assisted projects, risk management programs, and the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program. Other items under the fund were struck out.
Lacson also backed the removal of allocations that could have duplicated existing funding and welcomed the President’s directive enforcing a prohibition on political involvement in the distribution of cash and other forms of financial assistance, saying it would help ensure aid reaches beneficiaries fairly and transparently.
With the budget signed, senators said attention now turns to implementation, with commitments to closely monitor spending and ensure public funds are used as intended.
