MANILA – Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the proposed 2027 national budget should prioritize programs that would spur economic growth and help the country respond to global and domestic challenges.

In a news release, Gatchalian said the spending plan for next year should support economic activity amid external and local pressures, including persistently high oil prices, the threat of a severe El Niño, and the need to manage the country’s rising debt.

The Department of Budget and Management has proposed a PHP7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, 6 percent higher than this year’s PHP6.793 trillion. The proposed budget is equivalent to 21.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

“Our national budget for next year should help stimulate economic activities to counteract global and domestic challenges, including the need to manage ballooning debt,” Gatchalian, who spearheaded the legislation of this year’s national budget, said.

The Senate is expected to begin deliberating on the proposed spending measure in the coming months.

Gatchalian acknowledged that the chamber’s schedule would be more demanding as it also prepares for the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, but said the Senate would adjust its timetable to ensure the timely review of the budget.

He added that senators would carefully examine the proposed appropriations to ensure government funds are spent properly.

“Bukod sa pagbibigay-prayoridad sa mga programang magpapataas ng kalidad ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan tulad ng imprastraktura, edukasyon at kalusugan, kailangan din nating tiyakin na ang national budget sa susunod na taon ay hindi maaabuso at magagamit lamang para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan (Aside from prioritizing programs that will improve the quality of life of our countrymen like infrastructure, education and health, we also need to ensure that our national budget for next year will not be misused and used only for the benefit of our fellow Filipinos),” he said.