PBBM signs P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 as Sen. Imee Marcos claims no spending veto

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, though his sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, claims he did not veto any spending items.

Senator Marcos clarified that the veto only affected P92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, which are standby items not yet backed by available funds.

She described the 2026 budget as "the sneakiest," arguing that pork barrel funds were merely fragmented and redistributed across multiple items.

Senator Marcos questioned why certain allocations, such as farm-to-market roads, more than doubled despite concerns about political patronage.

The original budget included a special provision disallowing political involvement in the distribution of financial assistance to prevent corruption, but lacked specific prohibitions on political endorsements or guarantee letters for aid programs.

The budget also saw a significant reduction in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways, which has been under fire over anomalous flood mitigation structures.