DBM warns vs. budget tampering

While the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already begun drafting guidelines in case President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opts to reenact the 2025 national budget next year, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman is crossing her fingers that this scenario will be avoided, stressing that it would be unjustifiable to reenact a spending plan already tagged as the most corrupt in history.

- By DERCO ROSAL

On the sidelines of her Aug. 4 inspection of flood mitigation infrastructure and roads affected by recent flooding in Pampanga, Pangandaman told reporters she is hopeful that next year's national budget will not be labeled as bungled one, unlike how critics have branded this year's budget.

"If you tamper with that [2026] budget [proposal], we'll just reinstate it," Pangandaman said, echoing the President's warning against those planning to botch the emerging national budget. She is also hopeful for a more transparent budget.

"I'm having our legal team and budget operations team start drafting the guidelines in case a reenactment happens. But hopefully, it won't come to that, because if the 2025 budget is reenacted—when it's already being called the most corrupt budget—then why reenact it?" Pangandaman asserted.

Pangandaman then urged the concerned individuals to refrain from doing anything that could lead to a reenacted budget. "Let's just study it thoroughly, even if it takes time," she said instead.