Approval of 2026 budget still on schedule, says Palace

Malacañang on Thursday assured the public that the approval of the proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026 is still within schedule, noting that there is no need to worry about having a reenacted budget.

Asked if the passing of the proposed budget is within schedule, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro answered in the affirmative: ''Yes.''

She also said there has been no concern on having a reenacted budget for next year: ''Wala naman po (There is none).'' 

Her statement came after President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. ordered a sweeping review in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure that the resources are directed toward infrastructure projects that genuinely serve and benefit the Filipino people,

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said the Department of Budget and Management and the entire Executive branch of the government are ready to cooperate with Congress to iron out alleged questionable and erroneous items in the proposed budget for next year.

Pangandaman, however, cautioned that a reenacted budget would “cause a downturn” for the Philippines’ economy. 

The DBM defines a reenacted budget as a situation where the previous year’s General Appropriations Act (GAA) is extended and remains in effect for a preceding year until such time Congress passes a budget bill into law. —AOL, GMA Integrated News