Senate Finance Committee Chairman and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito called for a return to fundamental spending principles as lawmakers began reviewing the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, advocating for heightened fiscal discipline and transparency.
Opening the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) review, Ejercito outlined a “back-to-basics” approach aimed at maximizing public funds while promoting economic recovery.
“As we formally begin these deliberations, I want to underscore our clear intention to go ‘back to basics’ in crafting this budget,” Ejercito said.
The senator emphasized that this framework focuses on enforcing strict accountability and channeling resources toward essential public services.
“In going back to basics, we mean accountability for every peso we appropriate, with a clear focus on the basic needs of the people such as health, education, and infrastructure that will generate quality jobs and put food on the table,” he said.
The 2027 proposed spending plan represents a 6 percent increase over current appropriations. However, recent economic data showing second-quarter growth slowing to 2.3 percent—driven by dips in construction and soft investments—has prompted calls for cautious fiscal management.
Ejercito cautioned that Congress must carefully evaluate expenditures to distinguish between high-value investments and mere nominal outlays.
“Every peso we appropriate represents a choice…The challenge is not only how much we spend, but where each peso will have the greatest impact on the needs of our people,” he noted.
He assured that the Senate Finance Committee will thoroughly scrutinize agency programs for readiness, necessity, and accountability, while clarifying that rigorous oversight aims to eliminate waste rather than hamper progress.
“What we need to stop is corruption and anomalies, not development,” Ejercito added.