Photo credit: PCO

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given the green light to the proposed ₱6.793 trillion national budget for 2026, a financial blueprint that, according to Malacañang, reflects the administration’s drive toward inclusive growth and a more resilient, forward-looking Philippines.

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Press Officer Claire Castro said the proposed budget aims to strengthen the country’s educational system while making tangible improvements to the lives of Filipinos across all sectors.

“The President emphasized that this budget is not just about sustaining economic growth,” Castro said, “but ensuring that growth translates into real, meaningful change in the quality of life for every Filipino.”

Castro added that during the morning’s Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace, Marcos reiterated his call for a national spending plan that balances development with compassion, guided by the broader vision of building a “Bagong Pilipinas” — one that is progressive, inclusive, and future-ready.

“Sa ilalim ng Marcos administration, mahalaga ang kapakanan ng bawat isa at ang kinabukasan ng taumbayan tungo sa mas progresibo at maunlad na Bagong Pilipinas,” she said.

While full details of the 2026 budget proposal are expected to be made public soon, early signals suggest key investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital transformation — sectors the administration sees as central to post-pandemic recovery and long-term national advancement.

The proposed national budget will be submitted to Congress later this month, in line with the Constitutional requirement to do so within 30 days of the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled for July 22.