House ready to answer flagged 2027 budget discrepancies

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Saturday said that the House of Representatives is ready to address and discuss concerns raised by budget watchdogs on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for fiscal year 2027.

Garin made the response as the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget is under Senate review.

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“Again, we welcome the criticism. And bukas na bukas ang Kongreso para pag-usapan ito at pakinggan ’yung hinaing ng ating mga budget watchdogs,” Garin said during a Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

(Once again, we welcome the criticism. Congress is wide open to discussing this and listening to the concerns of our budget watchdogs.)

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READ: Senate, House ponder next move on 2027 budget

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Members of civil society groups flagged discrepancies and questionable allocations in infrastructure projects, as well as financial assistance, health aid and agriculture programs in the proposed budget for next year.

Although Garin welcomed closer public scrutiny, she said that the list of questionable projects lacked justification.  

“Dahil po ako ay aktibo na nandoon sa mga budget deliberations, napaka-imposible nung sinasabing walang basehan one trillion na listahan ng mga project,” she said.

(Since I am actively involved in the budget deliberations, it is highly implausible to claim that the one-trillion-peso list of projects lacks any basis.)

She argued that agencies began their proposed budget for 2027 months before the Congress received the 2027 spending measure.

She added that before budget proposals reached the House, it first underwent review from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the executive branch.

The Deputy Speaker further asserted that some of the projects with incomplete requirements can be completed throughout the review proceedings.

“So ’yung sinabing iba na walang documents kasi naka-comply na sila sa DBM, nasa kanila na ’yung lahat ng attachments,” she said.

(As for those mentioned who don’t have the documents—it’s because they have already complied with the DBM, and they are the ones in possession of all the attachments.)

When asked about the inconsistencies in the farm-to-market road (FMR) coordinates, Garin explained that road stationing may provide a more accurate and reliable reference to identify project locations and monitor the construction.

This, after the Department of Agriculture admitted that eight of 1,669 FMR projects included in the National Expenditure Program contained errors.

READ: Farm-to-market road errors ‘blown out of proportion’ – House rep

Garin, moreover, explained that government priorities may change due to external factors, such as disasters and other national emergencies, which may prompt agencies to postpone and fund urgent projects.

“Along the way, nagbabago ang prayoridad ng mga ahensya,” she said.

(Along the way, the priorities of the agencies change.)

The Senate scheduled the sponsorship of House Bill No. 10858, or the 2027 GAB on Nov. 27.

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Garin maintained that the budget being reviewed closely would further explain how government projects were proposed, evaluated, and funded. /ms