Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice has urged Congress to correct questionable allocations and potentially unconstitutional provisions in the proposed 2027 national budget without resorting to a reenacted budget.
Erice warned that reenacting the previous budget could delay essential projects, disrupt government spending priorities and worsen economic challenges.
He called on the Senate to carefully scrutinize the House-approved General Appropriations Bill (GAB), remove discretionary insertions and retain justified institutional amendments that meet implementing agencies’ requirements and undergo transparent evaluation.
The lawmaker stressed that Congress does not have to choose between approving a questionable budget and reenacting the previous year’s appropriations, saying there is still time to address problematic provisions before the measure becomes law.
Erice proposed using the National Expenditure Program (NEP) as the starting point for reviewing district-level infrastructure allocations under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He also sought scrutiny of farm-to-market road allocations under the agriculture and agrarian reform departments, along with irrigation infrastructure funding under the National Irrigation Administration.
However, Erice emphasized that even allocations originally included in the NEP must undergo thorough examination, particularly multibillion-peso funding concentrations in individual congressional districts.
He also encouraged lawmakers who opposed the passage of the 2027 GAB to formally request representation in the House delegation to the bicameral conference committee.
According to Erice, their participation would help strengthen checks and balances during the budget reconciliation process.
He emphasized that differences between the House and Senate versions should be resolved through documented and defensible decisions.
The congressman maintained that questionable provisions can still be corrected through legislative review while preserving justified allocations and avoiding disruptions associated with a reenacted national budget.
