Romualdez backs Marcos’ budget reform call: No backroom talks

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has vowed to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for reforms in the budget-making process, noting that there should be no more “backroom haggling.”

In a statement on Monday night, Romualdez said he would comply with Marcos’ directive issued during the latter’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) to align the national budget with the government's priorities.

According to Romualdez, this means greater transparency during budget deliberations, particularly in meetings of the bicameral conference committee.

“The president’s message was clear: Make government work better for the people. As speaker, I am committed to making sure the budget reflects that — every centavo must go where it’s needed most,” Romualdez said.

“No backroom haggling. The people have every right to know how their money is being spent. If we want trust, we have to earn it, starting with an open bicam,” he added.

In his Sona speech, Marcos sternly warned members of both the House and the Senate that he would not sign any proposed national budget that is not aligned with the administration’s programs.

Marcos said this after discussing issues with the country’s flood control program, including concerns that much of the budget has been lost to corruption.

According to Marcos, he will return any General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that is not in line with the National Expenditures Program (NEP) — even if it results in a reenacted budget.

“Therefore, for the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed General Appropriations Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditures Program. And further, I am willing to do this even if we end up with a reenacted budget,” Marcos told Sona attendees.

READ: Marcos tells Congress: I won’t sign budget not aligned with gov’t

Under Article VI, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution, all appropriations — which means budget bills — shall “originate exclusively in the House of Representatives.”

The country’s budget process begins with the President and the executive branch submitting their proposed appropriations, contained in the NEP. The NEP is then forwarded to the House committee on appropriations for budget deliberations, where lawmakers can make adjustments as long as they do not exceed the ceiling set by the President.

When the changes made by the House to the NEP are reflected in a bill, it is then called the GAB. Once the GAB is approved on third reading by the House, it is forwarded to the Senate, as the Constitution also allows the chamber to propose amendments.

A reenacted budget occurs when the budget bill is not signed into law before the calendar year ends, forcing the national government to operate using appropriations from the previous year.

There have been several concerns about the recent budget processes: In early 2025, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and former president Rodrigo Duterte claimed that the approved budget bill of the House contained blank allocations for certain line items.

Former appropriations senior vice chair and former Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo maintained that the alleged blank items in the bicameral conference committee report had exact figures already, insisting that blanks were only left for final calculations.

READ: Quimbo: Bicam finalized exact budget, Senate staff prepared report

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, warned that the country’s flood control project may have been lost to corruption.

According to Lacson, there must be a review of the government’s flood control projects, as half of the almost P2 trillion allocated for that program since 2011 may have been lost to corruption.

READ: P1 trillion for flood control likely lost due to graft – Lacson

A document also sent to Vera Files sparked questions about alleged insertions worth P142 billion for flood control projects.

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, meanwhile, called for the removal of small committee hearings even after budget deliberations.

In a chance interview with reporters after the Sona, Tiangco said that the rules of the House of Representatives should be strictly observed, especially in crafting the national budget.

READ: Billions for flood control: Unanswered questions behind Senate’s P142-B ‘bicam insertions’

Romualdez assured the public that the House leadership was prepared to act decisively on “long-needed structural changes to the national budget process.”

“This is not just about numbers, it’s about making sure families feel the impact of every peso we allocate,” he said. “We need to put food on the table, ensure no family is crushed by hospital bills, and create jobs that restore dignity and hope. These are not abstract goals — they are urgent, real, and long overdue.”

“No delay, no drama. The House will do its job with focus and compassion. Because at the end of the day, that budget isn’t about institutions. It’s about lives,” he added. “We will legislate with purpose — not for headlines, but for households. Not for applause, but for impact. That’s what this moment calls for, and that’s what the people deserve.” /jpv

 

(2025/07/29-13:32)

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