Business group urges government to eliminate questionable items from 2027 budget

MANILA — One of the Philippines' most prominent business groups has pressed the government to implement a "zero tolerance" policy toward suspicious expenditures in the upcoming 2027 budget proposal, citing concerns over lack of transparency in how funds are allocated.

The Management Association of the Philippines raised the call in a statement released Thursday, warning that opacity in the budget process undermines public confidence and fiscal accountability. The organization emphasized the need for the Marcos administration to scrutinize line items more rigorously before final appropriations are approved.

The 2027 budget, valued at P7.2 trillion, represents a significant increase from previous years. Business leaders have expressed concern that without stronger oversight mechanisms, questionable allocations could slip through the legislative process undetected.

The group's appeal reflects broader concerns among the private sector about budget discipline and governance standards. Industry representatives have previously called for improved mechanisms to track government spending and reduce opportunities for wasteful or inappropriate expenditures.

The business community's intervention comes as lawmakers prepare to deliberate on the administration's budget proposal during the congressional budget hearings phase.