PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law the national budget for fiscal year 2026 after a week-long review of its allocations and provisions.
The signing of the ₱6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) took place at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace, with key Cabinet members as well as senators and members of the House of Representatives in attendance.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier stated that the Executive Branch is committed to ensuring that the 2026 budget complies with legal and technical requirements, and, more importantly, addresses the priority needs of Filipinos.
Prior to the signing, the government briefly operated under a reenacted budget, as the ratified spending measure was transmitted by Congress to the Executive only on December 29, 2025.
However, the budget drew criticism from some lawmakers who flagged the trillion-peso proposal for allegedly containing fragmented discretionary funds, often referred to as “grilled pork.”
Critics also claimed that the measure lacked sufficient funding for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization.
Amid concerns over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, the 2026 budget earmarked ₱2.49 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of existing flood control and drainage systems and related facilities.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for its part, said the proposed spending plan includes no funding for new locally funded flood control projects, in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to streamline the agency’s expenditures.