Marcos Receives Copy of 2026 Nat'l Expenditure Program

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) yesterday presented to President Marcos the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program for 2026.

- By Alexis Romero and Marco Luis Beech

The NEP will be transmitted to the House of Representatives today.

The proposed budget, which is 7.4 percent higher than this year's P6.326-trillion appropriation, was handed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to President Marcos during a ceremony at Malacañang.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said the NEP would prioritize essentials that uphold fundamental rights, such as the right to quality and accessible education, strengthened health care systems and services, expanded social protection programs and food security.

Marcos approved the spending program last month. The top 10 priority sectors in the President's budget are education, public works, health, defense, interior and local government, agriculture, social welfare, transportation, judiciary and labor and employment.

By expense class, the highest allocation will go to maintenance and other operating expenses at P2.639 trillion – chiefly for bankrolling the implementation of government programs and projects, according to a recent DBM statement.

Personnel services expenditures will get P1.908 trillion, covering the salaries and other personnel services benefits of government workers, including the requirements for creation and filling of posts.

Capital outlays will be provided with P1.296 trillion to fund priority infrastructure projects, while financial expenses will get P950 billion.

National government agencies will have an outlay of P4.305 trillion or 63.4 percent, while local governments will get nearly 20 percent at P1.350 trillion, excluding locally implemented projects funded through national agencies.

Government-owned or controlled corporations will have an allocation of P188.3 billion in the form of subsidy or equity support and net lending assistance.