A lawmaker has filed a resolution urging the national government to allocate potential savings from the 2026 ASEAN Summit hosting budget to provide assistance to Filipinos affected by rising oil prices.
Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste introduced House Resolution 911, which calls on the Office of the President to set aside savings from the budget allocated for the country’s hosting of the 2026 ASEAN Summit.
Under the proposal, any unused funds from the 22.9 billion pesos allocated for the summit may be redirected to relief measures aimed at addressing the impact of fuel price increases.
Leviste cited figures from the General Appropriations Act, noting that 5.4 billion pesos was allocated for the 2026 hosting under the 2025 budget, while an additional 17.4 billion pesos was provided under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The lawmaker acknowledged the importance of hosting the ASEAN Summit, citing its benefits in diplomacy, tourism, trade, investment and energy security. He clarified that the resolution does not call for the cancellation of the summit.
Instead, the proposal seeks to promote cost-efficient spending during the preparations and execution of the event.
Leviste pointed to the country’s 2017 ASEAN hosting as an example, noting that only 51 percent of the allocated budget was spent, equivalent to about 8.572 billion pesos.
He said potential savings from the ASEAN hosting could strengthen and expand the government’s response to the effects of rising oil prices.
The lawmaker added that the proposal also aims to demonstrate fiscal discipline while ensuring support measures are available to communities affected by increasing fuel costs.
