QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed on second reading Wednesday, October 7, the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, setting up its expected final passage early next week.
Formally filed as House Bill (HB) No. 10858 or the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the measure secured second-reading approval through a simple voice vote during plenary session.
Presiding officer and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin, a Deputy Speaker, declared the bill passed after the “ayes” overwhelmed the “nayes.”
Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Mika Suansing, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, led the floor defense and managed the individual amendments introduced by lawmakers.
This marks the second national budget crafted under tightened transparency rules following the exposure of a major corrupt scheme involving multi-billion-peso flood control projects.
Key reforms include the creation of the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc), which vetted institutional amendments during a public hearing livestreamed on October 1. The BARSc replaces the previous “small committee” system, which traditionally made budget tweaks behind closed doors.
These approved modifications were officially integrated into the 2027 GAB on Wednesday through an amendment by substitution.
”Earlier, we have distributed to the members copies of the substitute bill to HB No.10858. Madam Speaker, I move to amend by substitution the entire bill as contained in Committee Report No. 638, with the contents of the substitute bill earlier distributed to all the members,” Deputy Majority Leader and Sorsogon 2nd District Representative Wowo Fortes said as he made the motion.
Fortes clarified that lawmakers received digital copies of the substitute bill via their official email addresses.
ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio raised an objection against the procedure, but Garin called for a division of the House, which effectively overruled his challenge.