The Senate is reshaping the proposed 2027 national budget to strengthen preparations for El Niño while trimming nonessential spending and reviewing funding for foreign-assisted projects, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Federation of Philippine Industries Business Summit, Gatchalian said senators were prioritizing measures to cushion agriculture, food security and prices from the weather phenomenon despite tighter fiscal room.
“Itong 2027 budget, we are tilting it to El Niño. So maraming items ’yan will be El Niño response,” he said.
Gatchalian said senators were still consolidating proposed interventions and had yet to determine how much funding would be allocated.
He described El Niño as one of the biggest potential external shocks to the economy, with threats to farm output likely to add pressure on food prices.
A state of calamity or emergency could be declared if conditions warranted, he said, adding that the budget should already provide resources for a government response.
To create fiscal space, the Senate is examining agency expenditures, including travel and seminars, for possible reductions.
“May mga items na hindi naman kailangan, pwedeng bawasan, babawasan namin,” Gatchalian said.
He said the Senate had less room to maneuver than during the previous budget cycle, when the removal of flood-control allocations freed about P250 billion for redistribution.
Beyond El Niño preparations, senators are also reviewing whether to restore funding for foreign-assisted projects, particularly transportation infrastructure. Gatchalian also backed funding for the EDSA Busway, saying such projects should not be displaced without sufficient justification.
He said proposed budget amendments must be properly supported, particularly infrastructure projects that should carry technical descriptions to establish their necessity and readiness.
The Senate’s approach could put competing priorities under sharper scrutiny as lawmakers work on the P7.2-trillion proposed 2027 budget, with room for new spending increasingly dependent on cuts or reallocations elsewhere.
Senate reshapes 2027 budget for El Niño response
Previous article![Births, marriages, deaths shape Philippine priorities]( "Births, marriages, deaths shape Philippine priorities")
Next article![Yím Thai restaurant opens at The Lind Boracay]( "Yím Thai restaurant opens at The Lind Boracay")
Related Stories
