Business Groups Urge Congress to Remove ₱180 Billion in 2027 Budget Insertions

 

Nearly 30 Philippine business organizations are calling on Congress to scrap almost ₱180 billion in additional allocations inserted into the proposed 2027 national budget, warning that projects without sufficient technical justification could expose public funds to the same accountability failures seen in previous infrastructure spending controversies.

In a joint statement released Thursday, October 29, the coalition questioned the legitimacy of infrastructure allocations added to the proposed budgets of several government agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Health (DOH).

Among the organizations backing the appeal are the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They argued that every proposed project must undergo rigorous technical evaluation before receiving government funding.

The groups specifically called for supporting documents such as feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs. They also emphasized that projects should align with the implementing agencies' established master plans and receive formal validation confirming their readiness for implementation in 2027.

Their concerns stem partly from previous budget controversies involving alleged ghost flood control projects linked to questionable allocations in the 2023 to 2025 national budgets. The business coalition warned that approving projects without proper documentation could allow similar weaknesses in public spending oversight to persist.

Beyond the additional allocations, the groups also challenged how the proposed insertions were financed. Budget watchdogs reported that funding was partly sourced from reductions to foreign-assisted projects, calamity funds, the EDSA Busway program, and various health initiatives.

The coalition described these cuts as indefensible without clear explanations from lawmakers. It maintained that any reductions must be justified individually, otherwise the affected programs should receive their original funding levels under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the government's initial budget proposal.

The appeal comes as the Senate continues its deliberations on the 2027 national budget. Once plenary debates are completed, lawmakers from both chambers will convene in a bicameral conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the spending measure.

The dispute highlights a broader issue in the national budget process: congressional spending additions must demonstrate clear public value, technical readiness, and accountability. Without these safeguards, additional allocations risk diverting resources from established government priorities and weakening confidence in how public money is spent.