The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is prioritizing local government empowerment and disaster resilience as the Senate began plenary deliberations this week on the proposed P6.793 trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2026.

Fund allocations for local government units (LGUs) and disaster-response programs emerged as central priorities during the initial debates, reflecting the Marcos administration’s focus on community empowerment and swift calamity recovery.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman underscored the DBM’s commitment to improving fiscal discipline and the efficient use of public funds, particularly at the local level.

“We really need to improve the budget utilization of the government, including and especially the local government units,” Pangandaman said, stressing the importance of ensuring that every development project “is carried out.”

The debate agenda highlights key appropriations, including the Local Government Support Fund, special shares of LGUs in national tax proceeds and fire-code fees, and death benefits for village officials.

Also under scrutiny are the budgets for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Contingent Fund, Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, Pension and Gratuity Fund, and Unprogrammed Appropriations.

These allocations are intended to reinforce LGU capacities in infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and social welfare delivery, especially in areas recently hit hard by natural disasters.

The emphasis on disaster funds follows a year of successive typhoons. Typhoon Tino, which struck the Visayas and northern Palawan, affected nearly 1.95 million Filipinos, forcing more than 40,000 families in Cebu alone to evacuate due to widespread flooding.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 188fatalities from the storm.

Soon after, Super Typhoon Uwan battered eastern and northern provinces, displacing 1.4 million residents and cutting off power to nearly 3 million households, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

In response, lawmakers from both the majority and minority blocs have called for tighter coordination between national agencies and LGUs to ensure timely release and effective use of disaster and local infrastructure funds.

Senators stressed the need to prevent bureaucratic delays that often slow relief and rehabilitation efforts, echoing calls for greater fiscal transparency and accountability mechanisms for locally channeled funds.

Plenary debates on the 2026 GAB are expected to continue in the coming weeks as the Senate scrutinizes sectoral budgets before giving final approval.