MBC Statement on the 2026 Budget Deliberations

08 September 2025 – The Makati Business Club reiterates its commitment to transparency and accountability in the crafting of the 2026 General Appropriations in line with our support for the September 4 statement of various business groups and the September 6 statement released by the Philippine Budget Coalition which consisted of numerous groups and individuals. 

We support the President’s call during his third State Of The Nation Address, to address corruption by  auditing  infrastructure, and in particular, flood control projects, as well as his recent order for lifestyle checks on all government officials. We also support Senate Joint Resolution No.1 on improving transparency and accountability mechanisms in the Bicameral Committee deliberations, which in the 2025 GAA process, served as a “black box” where insertions for unprogrammed funds were executed. We note the following serious concerns: 

1. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget has increased more than twenty times over the past twenty years (2004–2026), a growth disproportionate compared to most other agencies even with adjustments to inflation considered. 
2. Within DPWH, flood control has one of the largest fund allotments, now accounting for about one-third of all infrastructure outlays. From 2023–2026 alone, flood control projects received over ₱1.2 trillion, with ₱250 billion programmed in 2026 (excluding local and convergence allocations). Despite years of  record-high allocations,there has yet to be an explanation why there is a persistence of devastating floods every time the rains come.
3. On top of the flood control line items, we should also deeply examine the Convergence and Special Support Programs (CSSP) is a catch-all program that finances multipurpose buildings, local roads, streetlights, basketball courts, waiting sheds, and other highly discretionary projects. Its broad and undefined scope  makes it highly  vulnerable to political discretion and pork-barrel type insertions. CSSP projects are subject to weak transparency and audit mechanisms posing significant risks for waste and misuse of taxpayer money. 

Through House Resolution No. 94, MBC has been accredited as one of the bona fide civil society organizations who will serve as observers and active participants in the upcoming budget deliberations. We welcome this recognition as an opportunity  to monitor, question, and ensure that the 2026 General Appropriations Act will be crafted to serve its purpose which are in the best interest and needs of the Filipino people. 

While each branch of government has its own safeguards, history has shown that external oversight can provide stronger protection for public interest.

We commit to fight the long running cycle of using the national budget and public money  to fund the personal interests of those in power.   MBC is one with every sector of society in declaring that the abuse must stop!  Tama Na, Sobra Na