The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday officially presented to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) amounting to PhP6.793 trillion, aimed at sustaining the momentum gained by the administration over the past three years.

In a ceremony in Malacañang, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman handed President Marcos the 2026 NEP, which will be submitted to Congress on Wednesday, August 13.

The 2026 NEP is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted FY 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion.

With the theme, “Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation,” the proposed budget for next year will build on the solid foundations laid by the Marcos administration in the past few years.

Still anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, the 2026 budget will prioritize the essentials that uphold the fundamental rights of the people, such as the right to quality and accessible education; strengthened healthcare systems and services; expanded social protection programs; and food security.

Last July, President Marcos approved the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026, which reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education and improving the lives of every Filipino.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address, the President said he would not sign any General Appropriations Act (GAA) that is not aligned with the administration’s priority programs and tolerates fund misuse. | PND