Senate Finance Committee chairperson JV Ejercito has called for tighter scrutiny of the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, saying that spending should focus on basic services and projects that deliver measurable results.

Ejercito said Thursday that the budget, which is six percent higher than this year’s spending plan, should prioritize health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, food security, and national defense.

“Every peso that we appropriate represents a choice,” Ejercito said. “The challenge is not only how much we spend, but where each peso will have the greatest impact on the needs of our people.”

He said lawmakers should examine whether proposed expenditures are necessary, reasonably priced, and ready for implementation, and determine who should be held accountable for delays and failed projects.

Ejercito said budget amendments should be made through open deliberations rather than last-minute insertions during the bicameral conference committee. He also backed the continued livestreaming of bicameral proceedings and greater public access to budget information.

No delays

The senator said the government must prevent corruption and waste without delaying legitimate projects. He also called for stronger health funding, saying allocations should cover doctors, nurses, medicines and equipment, not just facilities.

On infrastructure, Ejercito pushed for a long-term national plan and warned against projects driven by political considerations rather than actual needs.

“We do not want farm-to-market roads where there are no farms. Arbitrary and self-serving flood control programs have no place in our budget,” he said.

Ejercito said the budget should ultimately be measured by whether it improves Filipinos’ daily lives and supports economic growth.