Politics · Philippines Bureau
House panel wraps OP budget briefing in under 60 minutes
The House of Representatives appropriations committee concluded its budget hearing on the Office of the President's 2027 spending proposal in less than an hour, citing parliamentary courtesy despite protests from minority lawmakers.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The House of Representatives committee on appropriations ended its budget briefing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Office of the President in less than an hour on Wednesday, invoking parliamentary courtesy to conclude the session despite objections from opposition members.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto presented the OP's proposed budget allocation of P10.156 billion for the coming fiscal year. The abbreviated timeline of the hearing drew criticism from several minority lawmakers who sought more time to scrutinize the administration's spending plans.
Parliamentary courtesy, a longstanding convention in Congress, allows the majority to expedite proceedings in certain circumstances. The decision to curtail the budget briefing underscored the administration's control of the legislative chamber ahead of the 2027 budget approval process.
The OP budget represents a significant portion of the national government's discretionary spending and covers operational expenses, personnel costs, and various presidential programs and initiatives. The full House of Representatives is expected to take up the budget measure in subsequent sessions.