PBBM cannot sit in bicam budget delibs, Hontiveros says

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s intention to personally oversee the passage of the proposed budget for the next fiscal year may be well-meaning but it is not allowed under the Constitution, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.

"Even if the President is willing, he cannot. He should not. The Constitution does not allow it. The power of the purse is wielded by Congress and Congress alone—not the executive, not any member of the executive, not even the chief executive,” Hontiveros told reporters at Kapihan sa Senado.

“It is enough that the executive submits the national expenditure program to the House. From then on, it is in the legislature's hands and in our hands alone. Once it comes out of the bicam, where only two panels will sit, that’s the only time the Office of the President plays a role again—to either sign or exercise a line-item veto,” she added.

Hontiveros made the statement in response to questions on President Marcos’ supposed plan to observe the next bicameral conference committee for the proposed 2026 budget. 

According to her, Marcos may face problems if he insists on joining the congressional budget process. 

"They might face charges or, you know—I mean, they’re not even out of the woods yet with the complaints filed against our current 2025 budget. Are they going to add more problems to their 2026 budget? It’s their call. But I think it’s wrong,” she said.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said the President is actively monitoring the 2026 budget process, which proposes a P11 trillion allocation—a 20 percent increase from this year’s P9 trillion budget. 

The 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is already facing controversy due to several provisions now being challenged before the Supreme Court. 

Petitioners argue that the GAA is unconstitutional for failing to allocate mandatory funding for PhilHealth, unlawfully increasing appropriations beyond the President’s recommendations, and allocating the highest budget to infrastructure over education.

They also said the GAA is unconstitutional because the Bicameral Committee Report on the General Appropriations Bill contained blank items.