Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri on Tuesday urged the Executive branch to maintain transparency in implementing the 2026 national budget, now that Congress has ratified and transmitted it to Malacañang for review.
Zubiri said the Executive must carry forward what he called the “most transparent national budget” with the same commitment the Senate demonstrated during its ratification process.
“The Senate ratified the ₱6.793-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.
“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.
Zubiri expressed hope that the same transparency standards will continue in future Congresses and vowed that the Senate will keep oversight over the execution of the 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 the ratified budget and are reviewing it thoroughly to ensure integrity and effective implementation, according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who earlier said the President is expected to sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act in the first week of January.