Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman vowed vigilant oversight and tighter Executive–Legislative coordination as Congress convenes the bicameral conference on the FY 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
She assured the public that the DBM shall do what it can to protect the people’s budget from irregular realignments, and to keep it aligned with the administration’s national priorities.
Speaking at the Senate Committee on Finance hearing yesterday, the Budget Secretary addressed the concern raised by Senator Panfilo Lacson on the trimmed portions of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), particulary on the Department of Education and the education sector, while increasing funds for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Senator Lacson suggested closer coordination between the DBM and the Legislative branch to monitor the bicam hearings and safeguard the integrity of the NEP.
“Kailangan yung coordination between the Legislature and the Executive branches. Every step of the way, pakibantayan n’yo [DBM] na lang, especially during the Bicam [conference committee] because we all know that nandyan talaga ‘yung pinakamalaking mga culprits, no? D’yan talaga pumapasok ‘yung katakot-takot na realignments,” expressed Senator Lacson.
Secretary Pangandaman affirmed the DBM’s readiness to cooperate and, where necessary, to recommend appropriate executive actions on questionable items.
“We hear and respect these concerns. Babantayan po namin nang maigi ang budget ngayon. While the DBM no longer has jurisdiction on the General Appropriations Bill, we will work very closely with the House Secretariat and the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) to provide real-time technical validation and to ensure that any bicam changes remain constitutional, transparent, at higit sa lahat po, para talaga sa ikabubuti ng ating mga kababayan,” Pangandaman said.
“If there are items that violate the Constitution or are unsupported, we’ll flag them, document them, and elevate our recommendations—consistent with the President’s veto powers and our shared commitment to good governance,” the Budget Secretary added.
Secretary Pangandaman continues to call for an open bicameral conference where hearings are livestreamed and amendment matrices with justifications are publicly published.
