Senior House members back return of spending plan to DBM for 'correction'

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives majority urged legislators on Wednesday not to participate in hearings on the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 budget until the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clears up what they described as "questionable" items in the spending plan.

- Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Political parties making up the House majority called for the return of the proposed budget to the DBM for “corrections” of “erroneous entries” in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo V. Puno said.

He cited the duty of Congress to ensure the national budget is allocated “free of corruption,” adding that House leaders also want to avoid the perception that they are revising the spending plan for their own benefit.

“We are recommending to the Speaker that we return the 2026 National Expenditure Program to the Budget department, and we are asking our members now to refrain from any further participation in any other budget hearings until this matter is resolved,” Mr. Puno said at a briefing.

“The NEP, as submitted, is riddled with questionable entries,” he added, citing the alleged fund diversions, and blank line items that came with the preparation of the 2025 budget.