THE House Committee on Appropriations on Monday approved the proposed P27.28-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2026, citing parliamentary courtesy to a co-equal branch of government.
The budget panel, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, voted 56-5 to terminate the hearing after separate motions from Deputy Speaker Faustino Dy III and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan.
“Mr. Chair, on the part of the majority, in line with the long-standing tradition of extending institutional courtesy to the [OP], I move to terminate the budget deliberations on the proposed budget of the [OP] without prejudice to the constitutional authority of Congress to review, amend, or deny any item in the General Appropriations Bill,” Dy said.
Libanan also moved to end the deliberations, “subject to the clarification and questioning of three members of the House after the motion is approved.”
The motion drew objections, with ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio insisting that now is not the time for parliamentary courtesy but for full transparency in the budget process, especially for the OP.
“Sinimulan po ng Presidente sa kanyang SONA, ang sabi niya ang paglaban sa corruption at pagreporma sa proseso ng budget. Nagbanta pa nga siya na handa daw siyang magkaroon ng reenacted budget kung hindi babaguhin ang proseso ng pagba-budget,” Tinio said.
“So bakit ngayon ay pinipigilan natin ang pagbulatlat sa buong budget ng [OP]? Napakarami pong mga tanong na kailangang sagutin ng [OP] mismo,” he added.
With the objection, Committee senior vice chair and Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia, who presided over the hearing, ordered the panel to proceed to a vote.
In her opening statement, Suansing defended the proposed allocation for the OP.
“It is essential to underscore that the programs and activities of the [OP] are vital in ensuring effective leadership and the seamless execution of the highest functions of government,” Suansing said.
On behalf of the OP, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin presented the proposal.
About the Author
