Malacañang has started its review of the proposed 2026 national budget, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed, following receipt of the ratified version of the P6.793 trillion General Appropriations Act.
In a statement, Recto said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his economic team have begun examining the spending measure for next year. The review covers all provisions in the ratified bill, including a comparison with the original National Expenditure Program submitted by the Palace to Congress.
Recto said the process aims to ensure that every peso of public funds is properly allocated to meet the needs of Filipinos. He noted that the review is expected to take about one week.
Because of the timing, Recto said the country will operate under a reenacted budget during the first days of 2026. A reenacted budget means government spending will temporarily follow the previous year’s budget until a new one is enacted.
Despite this, Recto assured the public that essential government services and operations will not be affected. He said agencies will continue to function normally while the review is ongoing.
The General Appropriations Act serves as the government’s main spending plan and outlines funding for agencies, programs and projects for the entire year. The Palace review is a standard step before the president decides whether to sign the measure into law or exercise veto powers on specific provisions.
Recto did not provide details on which provisions are under closer scrutiny, but emphasized that the review will focus on alignment with national priorities and fiscal responsibility.
No timeline was given on when the final decision on the 2026 budget will be announced, beyond the expected one-week review period cited by Recto.
