Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian assured the public on Sunday, August 16, that the Upper Chamber will lead a prompt, transparent, and accountability-driven review of the ₱7.2-trillion proposed national budget for 2027.
Despite a congested legislative timeline that includes an upcoming impeachment trial, Gatchalian affirmed that the Senate is prepared to begin budget hearings as early as possible following the formal receipt of the 2027 National Expenditure Program from the Department of Budget and Management.
“As we will soon begin committee deliberations on the proposed national budget for next year, the Senate will be guided by a strict focus on public trust, fiscal responsibility, and timely execution,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate chief emphasized that lawmakers are dedicated to safeguarding public funds to ensure they are used appropriately and lead to direct benefits across key public sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, and job creation.
“Our goal is simple, and that is to ensure that every peso counts with the help of mechanisms for transparency and accountability,” he said, adding, “Whether it is allocated for education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, or job creation, every peso in the 2027 budget must directly benefit the Filipino people and drive inclusive economic growth across the country.”
Echoing Gatchalian’s commitments, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Senator JV Ejercito noted that strict safeguards will be implemented to uphold integrity.
Ejercito stated that the committee will outrightly reject last-minute insertions, particularly during bicameral conference committee sessions, and pledged that no closed-door bicameral meetings will take place. Instead, all proposed amendments must be presented and debated on the open plenary floor, complete with public livestreams.
Additionally, Ejercito vowed to strip away any allocations designated as “leadership funds”—a term referenced in Sandiganbayan testimony by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who faces graft and plunder charges over flood control project irregularities.
“As far as we are concerned, there would be no leadership fund. I will continue what Sen. (Sherwin) Gatchalian had started…” Ejercito said in an interview last Thursday.