Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday said the passage of the ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget is the first step toward building a more transparent, accountable, and service-oriented Congress.
“Maaaring hindi perpekto ang ating badyet, ngunit ito ay malinaw na simula ng bagong yugto sa ating paglilingkod—ang unang hakbang tungo sa tunay na Badyet ng Bayan: Bukas at Tapat sa Sambayanan,” Dy said during his adjournment address before the House of Representatives.
He described the 2026 spending plan as a product of efforts to make the budget process more transparent, “isang budget na ginawa sa liwanag, hindi sa dilim; na pinagtuunan ng sapat na oras, at nangibabaw ang puso at isip—hindi ang pansariling interes.”
Dy commended both the majority and minority blocs for their collaboration in shaping the budget, describing the process as a spirited exchange of ideas.
“Sa ilalim nito, walang naitago, walang tinago at walang ibang layunin kundi tiyakin na ang bawat piso ng buwis ng ating mga mamamayan ay bumabalik sa kanila sa anyo ng oportunidad, serbisyo, at pag-asa. Ito ang ating panata: ang pera ng taumbayan ay para sa taumbayan. Kailangan nating siguraduhin na ang pondong ito ay ginagamit nang tapat, may malasakit, at ipinagkakatiwala sa mga kamay na may pananagutan.”
Dy delivered his remarks before the House adjourned for a month-long break, following the chamber’s approval of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading.
The Speaker said the 2026 GAB was crafted with care, deliberation, and integrity to ensure that every peso collected from taxpayers directly benefits ordinary Filipinos through vital programs in education, health, social welfare, and infrastructure.
He explained that “ang sagradong mandato ng pamahalaan ay ang makatarungan, bukas, at responsableng pamamahagi ng yaman at oportunidad para sa ating lahat. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit tayo naririto. Iyan ang diwa ng Kongreso: tiyakin na ang bawat piso na galing sa buwis ng ating mga kababayan ay ginagamit nang tama at makarating sa mga tunay na nangangailangan.”
The education sector received the highest allocation at ₱1.281 trillion, equivalent to 4.1 percent of the country’s GDP—reflecting the government’s commitment to provide a brighter future for Filipino learners. Dy said the budget also sustains investments in healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and social protection to promote inclusive growth.
He commended both the majority and minority blocs for their collaboration in shaping the budget, describing the process as a spirited exchange of ideas that strengthened democracy and produced a people-centered spending plan.
Dy described the 2026 spending plan as a product of efforts to make the budget process more transparent.
“Sa ating Majority Bloc na pinangungunahan ng ating Majority Floor Leader Sandro Marcos, salamat sa inyong pagkakaisa, tiyaga, at malasakit sa proseso. Sa ating Minority Bloc na pinamumunuan naman ni Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, salamat sa inyong constructive inputs at mabusising pagtatanong. Sa ganitong masiglang palitan ng ideas and opinions, lumalakas ang ating institusyon at napapatatag ang ating demokrasya,” the Speaker pointed out.
He likewise thanked Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing and the Appropriations Committee members and staff: “Maraming salamat sa inyong sipag at pasensiya sa proseso ng pagsasaayos ng budget. Sa wakas, makakatulog na po kayo ng mahimbing.”
The Speaker also expressed gratitude to the Secretariat, employees, security personnel, and maintenance staff of the House, calling them the “pillars of the institution” whose dedication and hard work make every law and late-night session possible.
“At sa ating Secretariat, mga kawani, sa ating mga gwardiya, at maintenance personnel—maraming salamat po. Kayo ang haligi ng Kamara. Sa bawat batas na ating naipasa, sa bawat sesyong inabot ng hatinggabi, nariyan ang inyong sakripisyo, dedikasyon, at pagmamahal sa serbisyo publiko.”
