The House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, approved the proposed P10.158-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for fiscal year 2027, ending deliberations after a vote of 37-5 to extend the customary “institutional and inter-branch courtesy” to the Palace as a co-equal branch of government.
The motion terminated interpellation on the OP’s proposed allocation just 16 minutes into the hearing, from the moment Executive Secretary Ralph Recto began his presentation to the banging of the gavel by presiding officer Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia.
In his presentation, Recto said the OP’s proposed funding was 64% lower than in recent years. “We are asking for less while remaining fully prepared to do more,” he told the panel. Much of the drop is attributed to expenses for the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, which had been lodged under the OP in the previous budget cycle. Recto also noted that the office secured an “Unmodified Opinion” from the Commission on Audit (COA) for fiscal year 2025.
The quick approval was not without objection. Some lawmakers, including members of the minority bloc, opposed the parliamentary courtesy, citing public interest in scrutinizing the OP’s funds — among them roughly P4.58 billion in confidential expenses, or nearly half of the total request. Critics also flagged that an “unmodified” COA opinion indicates only that an agency has complied with audit submission requirements, and does not by itself certify that its spending is free from issues.
The OP budget now proceeds to plenary as part of the P7.2-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2027.
