Palace urges critics to study ₱7.2-T budget

Malacañang has challenged lawmakers criticizing the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to examine the spending plan in full before labeling it either overly focused on cash aid or “anti-poor.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the challenge on Thursday after lawmakers gave sharply different assessments of the proposed budget. 

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice reportedly argued that government spending places too much emphasis on assistance programs while lacking sufficient infrastructure investments. 

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, meanwhile, branded the proposal anti-poor, citing alleged reductions in social services alongside higher allocations for infrastructure and defense.

Castro questioned the conflicting assessments and urged the lawmakers to first reconcile their views on where the proposed budget actually puts the government’s priorities.

She defended the administration’s spending plan, saying its allocations cover education, infrastructure, disaster resilience and social protection, and should be assessed as part of the entire ₱7.2-trillion package rather than through individual increases or reductions.

Among the programs cited by Castro were the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program, subsidized rice initiatives, the Local Government Support Fund and financial assistance extended to communities affected by disasters.

The Department of Budget and Management formally submitted the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program to Congress earlier this week. The proposed outlay is 6 percent higher than the 2026 national budget.

Social services account for the largest sectoral allocation at ₱2.456 trillion, followed by economic services at ₱1.833 trillion. The consolidated health sector is earmarked ₱1.06 trillion, while ₱1.467 trillion is proposed for infrastructure projects under the Build Better More program.

Education remains the government’s biggest departmental spending priority, with the Department of Education allocated ₱976 billion.

Castro said critics should look beyond specific budget reductions or increases and consider how the proposed spending package as a whole is intended to address poverty, public services, infrastructure needs, and the country’s vulnerability to disasters.

She maintained that a closer reading of the proposed budget would provide a more complete picture of the administration’s priorities than conclusions based on selected line items.