Amid the issues surrounding the current year’s budget.
In his statement on Saturday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the government will be able to craft “a good, clean budget” for 2026 as both houses of Congress continues its deliberations on the proposed national expenditure plan.
President Marcos, who is currently in South Korea to attend the APEC Summit, said the government’s focus is on reducing the cost of materials for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and identifying potential savings in its projects.
“Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, marami nang nakita in both Houses, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate na magkakaroon pa tayo ng savings,” said the chief executive.
He added, “I think we will be able to show that it is, in fact, possible to write a good, clean budget.”
Previously, the President has ordered the DPWH to cut construction material costs by up to 50 percent, noting that materials previously acquired were discovered to be overpriced.
This move is expected to save the government at least PHP30 to PGP45 billion, which will be redirected to vital sectors such as health, education, and food.
Meanwhile, regarding the government efforts to combat red tape, overpricing, and corruption, the President said that the government must make it increasingly difficult for unscrupulous officials to manipulate processes and steal funds from public coffers.
“Kahit anong gawin mo maghahanap ng paraan ‘yan para lokohin ang gobyerno. But if the systems are in place you make it harder and harder for those people to do ‘yung nangungurakot. Make it harder and harder for them to do,” President Marcos noted.
He continued, “The harder it becomes, the smaller the number of people who are still operating under corrupt practices. So, it’s an ongoing thing. It’s not something that you can solve with one fell swoop.”