Marcos expects ‘good, clean budget’ for 2026

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the government will be able to craft a “good, clean budget” for 2026 as he stressed the importance of making it harder for corrupt public officials to pocket public funds.

Marcos made the remarks on Saturday during an interview with Filipino reporters in South Korea after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

In a statement on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office quoted Marcos as saying that the government’s focus is on significantly reducing the cost of construction materials for infrastructure projects and identifying potential savings in other government projects.

“Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, marami nang nakita in both Houses, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate na magkakaroon pa tayo ng savings,” the President said.

(Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, many have been identified in both Houses, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate that we can use as savings.)

He added: “I think we will be able to show that it is, in fact, possible to write a good, clean budget.”

Before flying to South Korea last week, Marcos announced that his directive to the DPWH – to cut down on costs for infrastructure projects by up to 50% - will now be expanded to other government agencies that are also implementing infrastructure projects like farm-to-market roads, classrooms, hospitals, irrigation projects, etc.

The President said the DPWH’s cost-cutting measures will save P30 billion to P45 billion for the government which can be redirected to health, education, and other vital sectors.

He also underscored the need for the government to make it very difficult for unscrupulous officials to manipulate processes and steal from public coffers.

“Kahit anong gawin mo maghahanap ng paraan ‘yan para lokohin ang gobyerno. But if the systems are in place, you make it harder and harder for those people to do ‘yung nangungurakot. Make it harder and harder for them to do,” Marcos said.

(Whatever you do, they can look for ways to dupe the government. But if the systems are in place, you make it harder and harder for those people to do the corruption. Make it harder and harder for them to do.)

“The harder it becomes, the smaller the number of people who are still operating under corrupt practices. So, it’s an ongoing thing. It’s not something that you can solve with one fell swoop,” the President added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News