House approves P7.2-trillion 2027 budget bill on final reading

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday passed on final reading the P7.2-trillion budget bill for 2027, 62 days after receiving the executive’s spending plan from the Department of Budget and Management.

The House approved House Bill No. 10858 after 281 lawmakers voted in favor and 13 against. One abstained.

However, the manner in which lawmakers amended the measure drew backlash after they approved P116.32 billion in budget realignments that critics said could expand political patronage.

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An independent budget monitoring group estimated that total legislative adjustments reached P198.9 billion.

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With House approval secured, the spending bill now moves to the Senate for review.

Lawmakers from both chambers are expected to convene a joint congressional panel to reconcile differences between their respective budget versions before sending the final measure to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his signature.

READ: ‘Politics-centered’ 2027 budget looms in House, says watchdog

House amendments to the budget bill include significant realignments to flagship state assistance programs and infrastructure, including P8.12 billion in additional funding for the education cluster and P20.86 billion for the agriculture sector.

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Lawmakers also added P11.49 billion for infrastructure development under the Department of Public Works and Highways.

READ: Lawmaker flags P180-B pork in 2027 budget

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The Department of Transportation also gained an additional P2.35 billion in realigned funding for public transit service contracting and the Edsa busway project, programs that received no funding in the initial budget proposal.

Social safety nets also received significant increases under the amendments, with lawmakers allocating an additional P25 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s crisis assistance program and P24.96 billion to the Department of Health’s indigent patient relief program.

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Lawmakers also earmarked P500 million for the school safety program amid growing concerns over campus safety and security following a string of violent incidents at schools in recent months. /mcm