MANILA – Malacañang on Monday assured the public that strict oversight will be enforced in the 2026 national budget, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ready to veto any irregular or questionable spending.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro gave the assurance in a Palace briefing, following claims that the 2025 budget was the “most corrupt” and amid ongoing investigations into ghost or substandard flood control projects.

“Sinabi po ng Pangulo even before, na kung mayroon mang magkakamali o magiging anomalyang muli ang gagawin na budget sa 2026, iyan po ay kaniyang ibi-veto,” Castro said.

“So, makakasiguro po tayo with all these things happening, makakaasa ang taumbayan na magiging maayos ang 2026 budget at hindi pahihintulutan ng Pangulo ang mga maanomalyang proyekto,” she added.

Castro said President Marcos shares the public’s outrage over the misuse of public funds, stressing that corruption in government projects will not be tolerated.

Marcos earlier announced the realignment of the PhP255.5-billion allocation for cancelled flood control projects in 2026 to priority programs of agencies including education, health, agriculture, social services, ICT, labor, and energy.