The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday formally presented to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the proposed ₱6.793 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for Fiscal Year 2026, designed to sustain the administration’s gains over the past three years.
During a ceremony in Malacañang, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman handed over the 2026 NEP to the President. The proposal will be submitted to Congress on Wednesday, August 13.
The 2026 spending plan is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted 2025 budget of ₱6.326 trillion.
Carrying the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation,” the proposed budget builds on the foundations laid under the Marcos administration and remains anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028.
The 2026 NEP prioritizes key sectors that uphold fundamental rights, including quality and accessible education, stronger healthcare systems, expanded social protection programs, and food security.
President Marcos had earlier approved the draft budget last July, emphasizing that it reflects his administration’s commitment to improving education and raising the quality of life for Filipinos.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos also vowed he would not sign any General Appropriations Act (GAA) that fails to align with government priorities or tolerates fund misuse.
With reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
