House eyes Oct. 9 approval of P7.2T nat'l budget for 2027

The House of Representatives is expected to approve the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 on third and final reading by October 9, House appropriations panel vice chairperson and Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. said Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Momo, who is said the timeline is feasible as the House Committee on Appropriations had already completed its panel-level deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets of various government agencies on Tuesday, September 8.

“The last budget hearing concluded as planned yesterday. We are slated to begin plenary deliberations next week, and we remain on track to approve the House General Appropriations Bill, or GAB, on third reading by the end of the legislative calendar on October 9,” Momo added.

Also on Wednesday, Momo said House leaders are looking to increase the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed P643-billion budget for 2027, saying additional funding is needed to complete high-impact projects, including flood control projects.

“There are a lot of projects which need additional investment in the DPWH. These are projects with economic multipliers such as farm-to-market roads, national highways and bridges, as well as inter-provincial and inter-island connectivity projects for the movement of our people and goods,” Momo said.

He, however, did not specify how much the House intends to increase the DPWH’s proposed budget.

Momo made the disclosure amid an ongoing scandal over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, including accusations that lawmakers received kickbacks from public works contracts.

He said the House would prioritize the completion of ongoing flood control projects that are backed by master plans and feasibility studies, particularly those in areas at high risk of flooding.

“At the same time, we also need to address the needs of our communities such as health care centers, evacuation centers, and flood control projects. If the flood control project is in accordance with a master plan, a feasibility study and its construction is already underway, those need to be completed first to be effective," he said.

"We will prioritize those in high-risk areas for flooding. Rest assured that the projects that will be funded are only those we need,” Momo added.

The DPWH already ranks second among the top 10 agencies with the highest budget allocations, next to the Department of Education (DepEd), which has a proposed P976-billion budget.

Other agencies among the 10 biggest recipients are the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Higher Education and state universities and colleges.— MCG, GMA News