P7.2T spending bill filed in House

MANILA, Philippines – Leaders and members of the House of Representatives filed the P7.2-trillion 2027 budget bill on Wednesday, a spending plan now under congressional scrutiny and is expected to be approved by the chamber on final reading by October.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, who heads the House appropriations committee, filed House Bill No. 10858 alongside 117 other lawmakers, including House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III. 

The 3,532-page measure contains the proposed allocations under the National Expenditure Program submitted by the Department of Budget and Management in mid-August. Congress may still modify, reduce or realign portions of the proposed spending as lawmakers review the allocations during budget deliberations.

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The budget proposal was crafted with “slower economic growth, inflationary pressure, geopolitical conflict, volatile fuel prices, climate-related risks, and constrained fiscal space” in mind, according to its explanatory note.

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“While the budget cannot eliminate these external risks, dependable spending authority will enable the Government to sustain essential services,” it said.

READ: 2027 budget: Bicam urged to block congressional insertions

The government’s budget plan is a key driver of growth, with state spending acting as a catalyst for economic activity. Concerns over slowing growth and rising inflation have pushed the Marcos administration to prioritize programs aimed at sustaining development amid tight wiggle room in spending.

“These conditions require a budget that protects essential government services, sustains productive investment, responds to immediate vulnerabilities, and preserves the country’s capacity to finance development over the medium term,” the budget bill said.

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Lawmakers have wrapped up the first week of marathon committee hearings on the spending plan, quizzing agencies on their proposed budget after grilling last week an inter‑agency budget panel that drafted the bill and projected next year’s economic conditions.

Committee budget briefings are set to conclude by Sept. 8, after which lawmakers will take up the record spending plan in plenary, with final approval targeted by Oct. 9. /dp