House begins budget deliberations

The House of Representatives will begin deliberations on the proposed national budget of P6.793 trillion on Monday, Aug. 18, in a transparent and inclusive manner as it vowed to approve the National Expenditure Program (NEP) as early as possible.

- By ELLSON QUISMORIO

"We want not only to inform but to involve the public, because the national budget is the people’s money. It should benefit them all. Kung ang pinag-uusapan ay ang pera ng taong bayan, dapat taong bayan din ang nakakaalam at makikinabang. Wala tayong itatago sa kanila (If we're talking about the people's money, then the people should also be informed and benefit from it. We will not hide anything from them)," Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed.

The 2026 NEP worth P6.793 trillion is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted 2025 national budget of P6.326 trillion budget.

The appropriations panel is being chaired in the 20th Congress by Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing, a Harvard University graduate and a member of the Young Guns bloc.

On Monday morning, the appropriations panel will kick off the discussions on the NEP with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). Romualdez is expected to welcome DBCC members to the House hearings.