House wraps up budget talks on more agencies

Among the agencies whose proposals and period of sponsorship and debate were finished were the Departments of Education (DepEd), Energy (DOE), Transportation (DOTr), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — Budget deliberations for fiscal year 2027 of at least seven more agencies have been terminated by the House of Representatives, which is expected to finish such hearings this week before the General Appropriations Bill is approved on second reading early next month.

Among the agencies whose proposals and period of sponsorship and debate were finished were the Departments of Education (DepEd), Energy (DOE), Transportation (DOTr), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

DepEd’s budget allocation of P975.9 billion for next year under Secretary Sonny Angara got the House’s green light. This represents 13.55 percent of the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget for 2027, according to Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora.

“Once again, this single largest allocation of any department in the government as part of the education sector, is consistent with the mandate of the Constitution. It affirms that this House continues to treat education not as an expense but as the nation’s most important investment,” she said.

The House also terminated debates on DOE’s P5.58-billion allocation, DOTr’s P300.96 billion, DSWD’s P241.2 billion, ERC’s P944 million, independent constitutional CSC’s P4.04-billion budget as well as CHED’s P35.45-billion spending plans for next year.

DOE-ERC budget sponsor Rep. Arnie Fuentebella said the budget, including its attached agencies, is a forward-looking investment in the government’s capacity to ensure energy resilience amidst global uncertainties.

As for DOTr, Reps. Edwin Ongchuan and Reynante Arrogancia said the allocation is not only for infrastructure, but is also about making easier and efficient the travel time of the commuting public.

The P148.63-million 2027 budget of the Career Executive Service Board, which is under the CSC – has been approved, as lawmakers vow to support operations of human resource governance, professionalization, workplace cooperation and administrative justice.