President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 General Appropriations Bill into law yesterday, January 5, with Malacañang assuring that the national budget for this year is "pork barrel-free."

"We are with you in ensuring that the budget of the nation is for the nation. We will not allow the hard-earned money of every Filipino to fall into the hands of the corrupt," President Marcos said.

[“Kasama ninyo kami sa layuning tiyakin na ang budget ng bayan ay para sa bayan. Hindi tayo na papayag na mapunta sa kurakot ang salaping pinaghirapan ng bawat Pilipino.”]

In his speech at the signing ceremony of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, President Marcos emphasized that he will not allow the people's money to be stolen through corruption.

The national budget for this year amounts to ₱6.793 trillion.

According to President Marcos, the government will be more careful in spending the national budget this year.

"In the 2026 National Budget, the direction of your government is clear: we will be more frugal, more careful, more responsible in spending the nation's funds. Every program and project will undergo thorough review to ensure it has clear benefits to the people, especially to sectors that need it most," Marcos said.

[“Sa National Budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan: magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan. 

Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan—lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan.”]

The top ten departments with the largest budgets are the Department of Education with over ₱1 trillion, followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways with a ₱530.9 billion budget, the Department of Health with ₱448.1 billion, the Department of the Interior and Local Government with ₱310.5 billion, and the Department of National Defense with ₱310 billion.

The Department of Agriculture received ₱297.1 billion, the Department of Social Welfare and Development ₱270.2 billion, the Department of Transportation was allocated ₱141 billion, the Department of Labor was given ₱73.6 billion, and the Judiciary received ₱70.6 billion.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto assured that there is no form of pork barrel in the national budget this year, contrary to statements from some legislators.

"We believe it is pork barrel-free because legislators cannot interfere when it comes to executing the budget, and that is purely an executive function when it comes to budget execution," Recto said.

[“Sa tingin namin, pork barrel-free dahil hindi naman puwedeng makialam ang legislator pagdating ng executing the budget at purely executive function na iyan pagdating ng execution of the budget.”]

President Marcos vetoed ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.

With reports of Nel Maribojoc