Senate finance panel pushes for higher 2026 budget for Marcos, Duterte offices

The Senate Committee on Finance has proposed to increase the proposed budgets of the Office of the President (OP) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for fiscal year 2026, as compared to the House-approved General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Based on the committee report on House Bill No. 4058 or the 2026 GAB, the Senate finance committee, chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, recommended a P27.352 billion budget for the office of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The adjustment in the OP’s budget was P66.2 million higher than the P27.286 billion approved by the House of Representatives in the GAB.

The proposed additional funding will go to the OP’s expenses on travel, training and scholarship, supplies and materials, utility, communication, professional services, representation, and rent or lease.

As for the OVP, the Senate finance panel added P156.038 million – increasing the proposed budget of Vice President Sara Duterte’s office from P733.198 million under the GAB to P889.236 million. 

The increase will be for the OVP’s maintenance and other operating expenses, as well as expenses in travel, supplies and materials, professional services, and additional funding for its financial assistance program.

Committee Report No. 18 was submitted by the Finance panel on Wednesday, November 12, and is currently uploaded on the Senate’s official website. 

On October 13, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 under HB 4058.

Gatchalian on Wednesday formally sponsored HB 4058 during the plenary session. The Senate began its plenary debates on the 2026 national budget on Thursday. — JMA, GMA Integrated News