Everyone's vigilance necessary in restoring faith in nat'l budget

The reconciliation of the disagreeing provisions in the proposed 2026 national budget by the Bicameral Conference Committee is a welcome, if overdue, development.

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With the slashing of P20.7 billion from contentious Department of Public Works and Highways projects and the realignment of a substantial portion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), lawmakers have taken a step that signals responsiveness to public clamor. But reconciliation is only half the task. What the country urgently needs now is swift ratification by both houses of Congress, so President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is given ample lead time to study the budget thoroughly before signing it into law.

Time is crucial here. It is the difference between a well-considered national spending plan and a rushed enactment that invites suspicion and undermines credibility. The nation cannot afford a repeat of the tainted 2025 national budget—one marred by questions of insertions, blurred accountability, and last-minute maneuvering that eroded public trust. A reenacted budget, or one signed under pressure and without careful scrutiny, would only deepen cynicism toward institutions already struggling to regain confidence.