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Palace assures strict oversight of 2026 national budget

29 September 2025

Malacañang on Monday assured the public that the government will enforce strict oversight on the 2026 national budget, noting that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is ready to exercise his veto power against any irregular or questionable spending.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the assurance during a Palace briefing, responding to claims that the 2025 budget was the “most corrupt” and detailing plans to safeguard next year’s budget.

“Sinabi po ng Pangulo even before, na kung mayroon mang magkakamali o magiging anomalyang muli ang gagawin na budget sa 2026, iyan po ay kaniyang ibi-veto,” Castro said during the briefing.

“So, makakasiguro po tayo with all these things happening, makakaasa ang taumbayan na magiging maayos ang 2026 budget at hindi pahihintulutan ng Pangulo ang mga maanomalyang proyekto.”

As the issue of budget “insertions” in the 2025 national budget has surfaced amid the investigation into ghost or substandard flood control projects, Castro said President Marcos is with the Filipino people in venting anger against the corruption of public funds.

President Marcos earlier announced that the PhP255.5 billion allocation for cancelled flood control projects in 2026 shall be realigned to priority programs of other agencies including education, health, agriculture, social services, ICT, labor, and energy. | PND