Senate to cut own 2027 budget by P2 billion -- Lacson

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said Friday the Senate intends to reduce about P2 billion from its own proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 "to set an example" for the House of Representatives.

Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accounts, said this in light of the Supreme Court decision declaring the 2024, 2025, and portions of 2026 national budgets unconstitutional.

"Nagkasundo kami nina Senate President (and I agreed) the other day… we will reduce our budget, 'yung Senate budget, by about P2 billion pesos from the [National Expenditure Program]," he said in an ambush interview.

"Magbabawas kami just to set the example or set the trend for the House to follow because ang House, nagdagdag sila ng P5 billion," he added.

(We will cut our own budget just to set an example or establish a trend for the House to follow because the House added P5 billion in its proposed budget.)

Under the 2027 NEP, the Senate originally sought a P7.7-billion budget for next year.

Lacson assured that the planned budget cuts would not affect the services of the upper chamber.

"Wala naman, kasi mayroon pang unused eh na puwede pang gamitin," he added.

(Nothing will be affected because we still have an unused budget that we could still utilize.)

He also said the release of the SC decision was timely, considering that reforms in the budgeting process are currently needed.

In a landmark decision, the SC struck down the General Appropriations Acts (GAAs) for 2024 and 2025 after Congress added appropriations beyond what the President had recommended in the National Expenditure Program.

Specifically, the 2024 budget was voided due to a P449.5-billion increase in unprogrammed appropriations, while the 2025 budget was struck down because of the additional P17.99 billion for the Special Road Fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The High Court likewise deemed as unconstitutional Special Provisions 1(a) and (b) of Chapter XLIII in the 2026 GAA, which authorized unprogrammed appropriations.

Recall budget bill?

Lacson also expressed belief that recalling the House's version of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is not the solution to the SC decision.

"Ang effect niyan, magre-reenact tayo, which is worse… Hindi 'yan ang solution. The solution is for the Senate to really scrutinize and cut all the fat doon sa ipinadala na GAB ng House," he explained.

(If the House recalls its budget bill, it would result in a reenacted budget, which is worse… That is not the solution. The solution is for the Senate to really scrutinize and cut all the fat from the GAB transmitted by the House.)

Lacson said House members who have concerns regarding the proposed 2027 budget should instead reach out to their own colleagues who will be members of the bicameral conference committee.

Members of the Makabayan bloc earlier urged the recall of the House-approved P7.2-trillion proposed national budget for 2027, following the release of the SC decision.

Both Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senate finance panel chairperson JV Ejercito have expressed apprehensions regarding the petition to recall the House budget bill. — VDV, GMA News