Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday assured that the Senate would reject questionable adjustments to the proposed 2027 national budget and maintain transparent deliberations following the Supreme Court ruling that struck down unconstitutional congressional spending increases in previous years.

In a chance interview, Sotto said the Senate would apply the same transparency measures adopted during the passage of the 2026 national budget, including the livestreaming of proceedings.

“What we did with the 2026 budget, if you recall, is we made it transparent,” Sotto said. “That’s why I even recommended live streaming, which we did.”

He said he had received information about alleged changes to the proposed 2027 spending bill that could fall under the constitutional violations identified by the Supreme Court.

“May mga ginalaw daw (There were supposedly some changes),” he said, without identifying the allocations involved or providing details of the alleged adjustments.
“We will not allow it in the Senate,” he said.

Sotto expressed confidence that Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Senator JV Ejercito would ensure that the budget review remains transparent and compliant with constitutional requirements.

The assurance came a day after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Congress’ PHP449.5 billion increase in unprogrammed appropriations under the 2024 national budget and the PHP17.99 billion increase in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Special Road Fund in 2025.

The high court also invalidated certain provisions governing unprogrammed appropriations under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, citing insufficient safeguards against improper spending.

In its ruling, the Court emphasized that Congress cannot increase the President’s total recommended appropriations and underscored the need for transparency and accountability in bicameral budget deliberations.

Sotto said the Senate would build on the reforms introduced during the 2026 budget process, when bicameral conference committee proceedings were livestreamed to allow public scrutiny of spending adjustments.

The Senate is currently scrutinizing the House of Representatives-approved 2027 General Appropriations Bill, with lawmakers expected to examine changes to agency allocations and ensure that the final spending measure complies with constitutional limits.

Ejercito, meanwhile, assured that the Senate would prevent a repeat of unconstitutional spending increases in the proposed 2027 national budget.

In a statement, he said the chamber would carefully examine the SC decision to ensure that the ongoing budget deliberations comply with constitutional spending limits.

“Let me assure the Filipino people: What transpired in past budget deliberations will not happen under my watch in the proposed 2027 national budget,” he said.

“We will carefully study the Court’s ruling, particularly its implications for the preparation, approval, and implementation of the 2027 national budget,” he said. (PNA)