MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Party leaders at the House of Representatives want to return the proposed 2026 national budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party, said in a press conference on Wednesday that "we have been constantly talking to one another... to discuss the problems that have arisen with respect to this 2026 budget." He said that "we have decided as a group to recommend the return of the 2026 national budget to the DBM because we do not know how to deal with it." "We have to practically redo the entire submission to us and we do not want to be suspected of any untoward action. We don't want it to appear that we are not accepting the rightful recommendations of the DBM. And on the other hand, we do not want to be accused... also of, you know, replacing or amending by errata a huge portion of the National Expenditure Program that they have submitted to us", he said.

He said that "we are recommending to the Speaker that we return the 2026 NEP to the DBM and we are asking our members now to refrain from any further participation in any other budget hearings until this matter is resolved." Aside from Puno, the following were present at the press conference: Deputy Speaker Janette Garin who is from the political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats; Deputy Speaker Yevgeny Emano; Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez, both from the Nationalist People's Coalition; Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona and Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, both of the Nacionalista Party., This news data comes from:http://wwef-lkfk-dqmo-expy.erlvyiwan.com

House party leaders want to return proposed 2026 budget to Executive