President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that his administration and Congress will be able to produce a “good, clean budget” for 2026, emphasizing the government’s continuing drive to cut costs, curb corruption, and redirect savings to key social services.

Marcos said both chambers of Congress have already identified potential savings as they resume deliberations on the proposed national spending plan.

“Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, marami nang nakita (many have seen) in both the House of Representatives and the Senate na magkakaroon pa tayo ng (that we can have more) savings,” he said.

“I think we will be able to show that it is, in fact, possible to write a good, clean budget.”

Cutting costs, saving billions

The President likewise underscored his directive for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reduce construction material costs by up to 50 percent, a move he said could save the government P30 to P45 billion.

These savings, Marcos added, will be reallocated to critical sectors such as health, education, and food security.

Addressing concerns about red tape, overpricing, and corruption in government projects, Marcos stressed the importance of building robust systems that make it difficult for erring officials to exploit government processes.

“Kahit anong gawin mo, maghahanap ng paraan ‘yan para lokohin ang gobyerno (No matter what you do, they will find ways to fool the government). But if the systems are in place, you make it harder and harder for those people to do ‘yung nangungurakot,” he said.

“The harder it becomes, the smaller the number of people who are still operating under corrupt practices.”

The President acknowledged that the fight against corruption is an ongoing challenge but maintained that consistent reforms and stricter oversight can significantly minimize abuses.

“It’s not something that you can solve with one fell swoop,” he noted.

Marcos has repeatedly emphasized fiscal discipline as a cornerstone of his administration’s economic agenda. By ensuring that each peso in the national budget is spent efficiently, the government aims to strengthen public trust, accelerate infrastructure development, and sustain economic growth.

Budget deliberations for the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) are currently underway in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the expectation of securing final approval before the end of the year.