Zubiri urges Executive to ensure transparent 2026 budget

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Tuesday called on the Executive branch to remain transparent in implementing the 2026 national budget, now that Congress has ratified and transmitted it to Malacañang for review.

According to Zubiri, the Executive must carry what he calls as the "most transparent national budget" across the finish line with the same commitment that the Senate showed in ensuring that the budget process was open to the public.

"The Senate ratified the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2026 after a process conducted in full view of the public, and the ball now shifts to the Executive to implement it with the same daylight the Senate showed while we keep watch on delivery," Zubiri said in a statement. 

"We kept a hard verification step before ratification. Hindi kami pipirma kung hindi tugma ang conference report at ang enrolled copy. Walang midnight insertions, walang for-later-identification at walang item na walang malinaw na program of work, location with exact coordinates at timeline," he added. 

(We kept a hard verification step before ratification. We would not sign it if the conference report and the enrolled copy did not match. There were no midnight insertions, no for-later-identification, and no items without a clear program of work, location with exact coordinates, and timeline.) 

The Senate majority leader also expressed hope that the budget process will remain as transparent in the next Congresses to come. 

Zubiri also vowed that the Senate will keep watch over the implementation of the 2026 national budget. 

"We will continue oversight of the national budget spending. This transparency standard now applies to appropriations, special purpose funds and all spending measures that we will pass in the future. We will defend it, improve it and make sure public funds really work for Filipino families," he said. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his team have received and are thoroughly reviewing the ratified 2026 national budget bill to ensure its integrity and effective execution, according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday.

Recto earlier said Marcos will sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act in the first week of January. 

Education budget

Senator Bam Aquino, meanwhile, said the public must remain vigilant to make sure that national spending, particularly on the education sector, will be implemented properly.

Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, said that through the P1.35 trillion earmarked for education, more students will benefit from additional classrooms and free school meals, among others. 

"Subalit hindi rito nagtatapos ang ating tungkulin. Patuloy tayong maging mapagbantay upang matiyak na ang pondo ay magagamit nang tama at hindi mapupunta sa bulsa ng mga tiwali sa pamahalaan," the senator said.

(However, our duty does not end here. We will continue to be vigilant to ensure that the funds are used correctly and do not end up in the pockets of corrupt people in the government.) 

"Sama-sama nating siguruhin na ang pondo ay mapupunta sa edukasyon—hindi sa korapsyon," he added.

(Together let's make sure that the allocated budget will go to the education sector—not to corruption.)

Also on Tuesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the proposed 2026 national budget ratified by Congress was designed to ensure that government spending produces clear and measurable gains in student learning. — VDV, GMA Integrated News