Senate Finance Committee chairperson Win Gatchalian on Monday, December 29, declared the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 as “pork-free” and legally defensible, citing sweeping transparency reforms in the budget process.
“I’m very confident that this budget can withstand legal and constitutional scrutiny,” Gatchalian said, noting that Congress worked closely with the executive branch and consulted legal teams to avoid vetoed provisions.
For the first time in legislative history, bicameral budget deliberations were livestreamed, and key documents were made publicly accessible throughout the process.
“This year’s process was widely reformed,” he said. “People may disagree with certain items, but what’s important is that everything is transparent and open for public review.”
Responding to critics, including the Makabayan bloc, who alleged the presence of “pork” via unprogrammed appropriations, Gatchalian insisted that lump-sum items had been removed.
“There is no pork in the 2026 budget,” he said. “All allocations are geared toward helping Filipinos, not politicians.”
He highlighted that education received ₱1.3 trillion — the highest ever — along with significant funding for health and agriculture.
However, he stressed that proper implementation remains key: “Enacting the budget is one thing; implementing it is another. Implementation is now in the hands of the executive, and vigilance will still be needed to ensure it remains corruption-free.”
Malacañang is expected to sign the budget into law in early January.