President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 but vetoed seven of 10 unprogrammed appropriations (UAs), cutting P92.5 billion from the P243.4 billion originally approved by Congress.
he Office of the President (OP) will receive about P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in 2026 under the General Appropriations Act signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, marking the fourth consecutive year the office has received the allocation during his administration.
Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Monday denied allegations linking him to an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Bulacan as he submitted a counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to the complaint.
Teachers, civil servants, and uniformed personnel may face delays in salary increases and retirement benefits under the proposed 2026 national budget, after over P43 billion in mandatory personnel benefits were shifted to unprogrammed appropriations (UAs).
All foreign-funded flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were given reduced allocations in the proposed 2026 national budget after Congress approved broad cuts to foreign-assisted projects, budget documents show.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday that its proposed 2026 budget does not allocate funds for new locally funded flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Thursday said that the verification of the documents previously called the “Cabral files,” now referred to as the “Leviste Files,” is being handled by the Office of the Ombudsman.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged Filipinos to choose the country over personal interests as the nation marked Rizal Day in Manila. In his message, Marcos called on citizens, especially the youth, to use national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s life and martyrdom as a guide for patriotism, truth, and responsible citizenship. He asked the public to embody Rizal’s principles in daily life, pursue just reforms, and stand for integrity and truth to help realize a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday confirmed that its investigators gained only partial access to the so-called “Cabral files” held by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Leviste allowed the team to view selected portions of documents linked to the late DPWH Undersecretary but did not open the full set for inspection. The Ombudsman is evaluating legal steps to secure complete access and to determine the evidentiary value of the materials in ongoing corruption inquiries involving public works projects.
The Palace announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has started a weeklong, thorough review of the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Bill after receiving it on December 29. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the President’s team is scrutinizing all allocations and provisions against the original National Expenditure Program to verify changes and ensure legal, technical, and fiscal integrity. While the 2026 budget undergoes review, the government will operate under a reenacted budget for the first days of 2026, which Recto said will not disrupt services or operations.