January 5, 2026 - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law the ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget, officially making it the largest national budget in Philippine history. Enacted on January 5 at Malacañang Palace, the spending plan was approved later than usual, following extended legislative review and adjustments that briefly placed the government under a reenacted budget.
The administration has framed the 2026 national budget as people-centered. According to the Department of Budget and Management, it prioritizes education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and social protection, sectors described as essential to inclusive growth and long-term resilience. Acting Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said the measure places Filipinos “at the center of the country’s growth,” while the DBM emphasized its focus on human capital and livelihood programs.
On paper, the intent is clear. The scale is unprecedented. The message is optimistic.
Yet the public response to the 2026 national budget has been notably restrained.
A Record Budget Signed Amid Lingering Controversies
The approval of the 2026 national budget comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over government spending. Allegations tied to questionable infrastructure projects, particularly flood control initiatives under the Department of Public Works and Highways, remain unresolved in the public sphere.
Watchdog groups had earlier urged the President to veto ₱319 billion worth of items, flagging concerns over possible pork barrel allocations and reductions in welfare-related funding. While the budget was ultimately signed into law, these warnings remain part of the public record, shaping how Filipinos interpret the new spending plan.
This context matters. Budgets are not judged in isolation. They are measured against memory.
Why “Biggest in History” Triggers Doubt
For many Filipinos, the phrase “largest budget in history” no longer guarantees confidence. Previous experiences with large allocations have left visible reminders: stalled infrastructure, delayed flood control projects, and public works that remain unfinished long after funds were released.
Infrastructure spending remains a cornerstone of the 2026 national budget, even as past infrastructure controversies remain unresolved. This overlap fuels skepticism. The concern is not the allocation itself, but whether existing safeguards are strong enough to prevent repetition of old problems under a much larger fiscal framework.
In this light, scale becomes unsettling rather than reassuring.
A Budget Passed Late, Trust Still Catching Up
Observers also noted that this marks the first time under the Marcos Jr. administration that a national budget was enacted after the start of the fiscal year, resulting in a temporary reenacted budget. The last similar situation occurred in 2019.
While officials described the delay as the result of careful review, it also revived public memories of how budget disruptions can slow projects and complicate implementation. For citizens already wary of how funds are used, timing adds another layer of unease.
How Filipinos Are Reading the 2026 National Budget
Filipinos are not rejecting the 2026 national budget outright. What emerges instead is cautious distance.
The emphasis on education, health, and social services resonates. But trust now hinges less on announcements and more on execution. Many are watching to see whether transparency mechanisms will be visible, whether flagged items will be monitored, and whether unresolved corruption concerns will be addressed with clarity.
The demand is not for perfection. It is for proof.
Beyond Numbers, the Question of Credibility
The 2026 national budget sets the fiscal direction of the country for the year ahead. Its success will not be measured solely by its size or priorities, but by how consistently funds translate into outcomes Filipinos can see and verify.
Public trust does not recover through record-breaking figures alone. It is rebuilt through accountability, follow-through, and the willingness to confront unresolved issues openly.
History does not repeat itself because budgets grow larger. It repeats when lessons from past spending are left unaddressed. Whether the 2026 national budget marks a turning point or another familiar chapter will depend not on how much was allocated, but on how faithfully it is implemented.