Senate vows to cut 2027 budget items lacking supporting documents

MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator JV Ejercito pledged Friday to strike budget items from the 2027 proposal that do not have adequate supporting documents from local government units and national agencies justifying project necessity.

In remarks to reporters, Gatchalian emphasized the Senate's commitment to scrutinizing budget proposals and removing allocations that cannot be substantiated by appropriate documentation. The move is part of efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline during the budget deliberation process.

The senators' declaration comes as Congress begins reviewing the proposed 2027 national budget. Their stance reflects growing pressure from watchdog groups and lawmakers to improve budget transparency and prevent wasteful spending on projects lacking clear justification.

Gatchalian and Ejercito did not specify which budget items would be targeted for removal, but their commitment signals heightened legislative scrutiny during the budget hearings and committee deliberations scheduled for the coming weeks.

The Senate's budget review process typically involves extensive questioning of agency officials and examination of project proposals to determine their viability and funding necessity.