THE SENATE will scrutinize questionable spending changes in the House of Representatives-approved P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 and consider restoring funding to major government projects, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Thursday.
Mr. Lacson said the Senate Finance Committee would closely examine the House amendments, particularly the P130-billion cut to foreign-assisted projects, which could expose the government to additional costs.
“Our work is cut out for us,” he said in a statement on Thursday. “We are holding hearings on the budget at the committee level. But we will do something about the questionable changes made to the budget by the House.”
Foreign loan agreements may carry commitment fees on undisbursed amounts, potentially costing the government millions of pesos even when the funds remain unused, he said.
Budget watchdogs and civil society groups have criticized the House for failing to fully disclose spending changes during committee proceedings.
They have questioned more than P116 billion in spending realignments under the House-approved budget, including increased allocations for government assistance programs.
The Senate received the House-approved General Appropriations bill on Wednesday and has begun reviewing the proposed allocations.
The chamber aims to complete budget deliberations by the second week of December, although the resumption of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial on Nov. 9 could tighten its legislative schedule.
Meanwhile, senators rejected Ms. Duterte’s claim that the national budget could be used to pressure senator-judges into convicting her in her impeachment trial.
Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian and Senator Erwin T. Tulfo said budget deliberations would not influence the impeachment court’s decisions.
Mr. Gatchalian said senator-judges would decide the case based on evidence and impartial consideration rather than budget allocations.
“In fact, the budget is not in any way connected to the judgment the impeachment [court] will reach,” he told reporters.
Mr. Tulfo said neither the budget deliberations nor the impeachment proceedings had concluded, making allegations of political pressure premature.
Mr. Lacson also rejected the Vice-President’s claims, describing them as unfair to lawmakers who have consistently opposed questionable spending provisions.
“I have never succumbed to the allure of pork barrel, in whatever shape and form,” he said in a separate statement. “On the contrary, I have consistently opposed and fought against it.”
Mr. Gatchalian pledged transparency in the Senate’s budget deliberations, saying hearings, transcripts, committee reports and the chamber’s third-reading version of the spending bill would be made available online.
He said it was too early to determine which House amendments the Senate would retain, revise or reject.
The Senate president identified infrastructure development, agricultural support and social protection as the chamber’s three main budget priorities.
He said investments in infrastructure and transportation were needed to accelerate economic activity.
Mr. Gatchalian also called for increased support for farmers and fisherfolk who could face prolonged dry spells during the early months of 2027.
Additional social protection measures might be necessary to cushion households against inflationary pressures linked to the US-Iran war, he added.
“These are the three areas we will focus on,” he said. “Should there be a need to augment or realign the budget, that is where our efforts will be directed.” — Francessca S. Abalos