House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos believes it is “the wrong time” to bring up the proposed creation of a constitutional convention (Con-Con), one of the modes for Charter change.
Rep. Marcos made the remark after stepping out of the ceremonial turnover of the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, August 13.
“Nasa budget pa lang tayo, let’s not bring that up. It’s the wrong time and the wrong place,” Marcos said.
The ₱6.793-trillion NEP was turned over by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to House Speaker Martin Romualdez on the same day, marking the start of the budget process in the lower chamber.
Also on Wednesday, Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela “Mika” Suansing, chairperson of the powerful Committee on Appropriations, announced that deliberations on the NEP would begin Monday, Aug. 18. The NEP serves as the precursor to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the legislated budget measure.
Asked about details of the NEP, Marcos said: “Kakakuha ko pa lang nung NEP, I haven’t even read it yet. Today is the first day. I would will to sift through it to fine comb.”
The House is aiming to pass the 2026 GAB on third and final reading before the adjournment of sessions on October 10.