Marcos says even NEP 2026 has questionable allocations

Even the National Expenditure Program for 2026 contains questionable allocations that need to be properly addressed, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., said on Monday.

Marcos was explaining the workings of the commission he planned to create and investigate anomalous flood control projects when he mentioned that the executive branch had been finding irregularities.

''The more we look, the more we find. Kahit sa 2026 budget, marami pa ring siningit. So... it really needs to be cleaned out properly,'' Marcos said.

(Even in the 2026 budget, there are several insertions.)

Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno on Friday said that there were several items in the 2026 National Expenditures Program (NEP) that contained allocations for projects that have been finished already.

The NEP, or the executive branch's proposed budget, is submitted to Congress to be scrutinized as both the Senate and the House of Representatives craft the General Appropriations Bill for the following year.

DBM to check

Asked to comment on Marcos and Puno's remarks, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said she would look into the supposed allocations in the NEP for projects that have already been completed.

Pangandaman said she already talked to Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon regarding the matter.

''Nag-usap na po kami kahapon ni Vince Dizon na iisa-isahin namin 'yan, papatingnan namin lahat 'yan, kung saan nanggagaling 'yang mga proyekto na substandard, ghost, nadodoble gawa na tapos nakalagay pa siya,'' Pangandaman said.

(I already talked to Vince Dizon, and we will look into it, where these substandard and ghost projects came from, including those who were already finished but were still included in the NEP.)

''We will do our best to check and then moving forward, we will ensure na hindi na ulit ito mangyari (this will no longer happen),'' she added.

Palace reaction

Asked for clarification on the matter, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing that this issue should be coordinated and checked first with the DPWH. 

''Unang-una, huwag muna po tayong maging judgmental agad ‘di ba dahil kailangan po nila muna makipag-cooperate/makipag-coordinate sa DPWH at kung anuman iyong ahensiya na sinasabi nilang nagawa na iyong proyekto pero nandoon pa rin po iyong budget,'' Castro said.

(First of all, let's not be judgmental because they need first to coordinate with the DPWH as well as other concerned agencies.) 

''So, halimbawa na lamang po, example po natin ang Marikina River – kung may proyekto po diyan dapat eksakto po iyong coordinates, kung ano talaga iyong lokasyon dahil baka sa haba niyan eh ibang parte ay tapos na pero iyong ibang coordinates naman o ibang lokasyon ay hindi pa,'' she added.

(So, for example, the Marikina River, if there's a project, the coordinates must be exact to determine the location because maybe the other parts were not yet finished, while the other locations are not yet completed.) 

'Coordinate with DPWH'

The Palace official ensured that Marcos would not allow these supposed insertions.

''So, mas maganda pong makipag-coordinate at makipag-cooperate muna sila sa DPWH para malaman din po natin kung ang kanilang sinasabi na proyekto ay talagang natapos na. At kung talaga naman pong natapos na at ito ay isiningit sa 2026 budget, hindi po ito papayagan ng Pangulo,'' she said.

(So, it's better if this should be coordinated with the DPWH so we will know the projects that the agency has already finished. The President will not allow these insertions.) –NB, GMA Integrated News