MANILA — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Tuesday vowed that the House of Representatives will subject the proposed 2027 national budget to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that government spending translates into concrete benefits for Filipinos.

The House formally received the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), with Dy saying lawmakers will assess the spending plan based on its impact on ordinary Filipinos.

“Hindi sapat na sabihin kung magkano ang ginagastos. Dapat maipakita kung ano ang nagagawa ng bawat piso. Ang bawat piso ay dapat may katumbas na ginhawa para sa bawat Pilipino,” Dy said during the NEP turnover ceremony.

Dy said lawmakers will ask government agencies not only how much funding they are seeking but also how the money will be used and what concrete results it is expected to deliver.

He said the proposed budget will be evaluated based on three questions: where the funds will go, what concrete changes they will bring, and how ordinary Filipinos will feel their impact.

The Speaker said the budget should prioritize the needs of families seeking affordable food, parents needing quality healthcare, students pursuing education, farmers requiring government support, and workers seeking decent employment and fair opportunities.

He said the proposed spending plan should also reflect President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s priorities outlined in his State of the Nation Address, including strengthening national security and self-reliance while improving government services.

These priorities cover food and energy security, education, healthcare, employment, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster preparedness, Dy said.

With the NEP now before Congress, Dy said the House has the responsibility to ensure that these priorities are preserved during deliberations and reflected in the final General Appropriations Bill.

He also vowed to maintain transparency in the congressional budget process, citing reforms introduced last year, including the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSC) and the livestreaming of bicameral meetings.

“Ang budget ay pera ng taumbayan. May karapatan silang malaman kung saan ito mapupunta. Sisikapin po natin na maging mas bukas pa ang pagbubuo ng ating national budget,” he said.

Dy likewise echoed the administration’s call against wasteful spending and corruption, saying savings from government expenditures could instead be redirected to classrooms, hospitals, agriculture, food programs, jobs and other essential services.

In the coming weeks, lawmakers are expected to scrutinize the NEP, question government agencies and consult stakeholders as Congress works on the proposed 2027 national budget.

“Sa dulo, iisa ang ating sukatan: isang budget na tunay na para sa tao at tunay na nararamdaman ng tao,” Dy said.