House OKs P7.2 trillion 2027 budget bill

Lawmakers approved through voice vote yesterday House Bill 10858, which contained the proposed national budget for next year.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the government’s proposed P7.2-trillion spending plan for fiscal year 2027.

Lawmakers approved through voice vote yesterday House Bill 10858, which contained the proposed national budget for next year.

Third reading approval is expected to be on Oct. 12 after House leaders requested the Senate’s permission to extend their legislative calendar to pass the budget bill on final reading.

The floor adopted amendments reallocating around P116 billion from the National Expenditure Program, following recommendations from a select committee of ranking lawmakers to augment flagship state assistance projects and infrastructure.

Of the amount, P8.12 billion went to additional funding for the education cluster and P20.86 billion for the agriculture sector.

Lawmakers also lodged an extra P11.49 billion for infrastructure build up under the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The Department of Transportation received an additional P2.35 billion in realigned funding.

Lawmakers also realigned an additional P25 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s crisis assistance program. The Department of Health got P24.96 billion for its indigent patient relief program.