MANILA, Philippines — A leading business organization is calling for zero tolerance for corruption, hidden insertions and questionable spending as Congress scrutinizes the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, warning that every peso lost to corruption could mean fewer resources for essential public services.
The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) urged the government to institutionalize end-to-end transparency in the budget process, saying the public should be able to trace government funds from the moment they are appropriated until they are actually spent.
MAP said the technology needed to make government spending more transparent already exists, but stressed that political will is needed to make disclosure the standard rather than the exception.
“Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken away from classrooms, hospitals, infrastructure, agriculture, social services, and programs that could create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos,” MAP said.
₱7.2 Trillion Budget Under Congress’ Watch
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. submitted the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to Congress earlier this month.
The proposed spending program is about 6% higher than the current year’s ₱6.793-trillion budget. Government agencies had initially submitted funding proposals totaling about ₱11.69 trillion, before the Executive Department consolidated them into the proposed National Expenditure Program.
The 2027 budget comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Philippine economy, following the controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in flood-control projects.
Reuters reported that the government is seeking to restore economic momentum after growth slowed sharply, with Philippine GDP expanding by only 2.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, its weakest pace since 2021 when pandemic-related contractions are excluded.
MAP Warns Against Hidden Insertions, Ghost Projects
As lawmakers deliberate on the spending plan, MAP is demanding that material amendments and budget insertions be publicly disclosed, including who proposed them, how much money is involved and what the funds are intended for.
The group specifically called for zero tolerance for:
- Hidden budget insertions
- Questionable appropriations
- Favored contractors
- Ghost projects
- Substandard projects
- Unexplained budget realignments
- The use of public funds for political accommodation or personal gain
MAP also stressed that accountability should apply regardless of a person’s political affiliation, position or influence.
Calls for a Cleaner Budget Are Growing
MAP’s warning comes amid broader calls for stronger safeguards in the national budget process.
Former Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno previously urged the Marcos administration to keep the 2027 budget clean and transparent and warned about congressional additions to the Executive’s proposed spending plan.
Former Finance Secretary Gary Teves likewise called for closer scrutiny of congressional insertions and stronger monitoring once the budget reaches the implementation stage.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has pushed for reforms including a ban on so-called “allocables” and the leadership fund, while calling for greater transparency throughout the budgeting process.
Government Already Rolling Out Transparency Measures
The government has also pointed to ongoing reforms intended to improve accountability.
The Department of Budget and Management has highlighted digital initiatives such as the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS), which is designed to support online monitoring of government obligations and disbursements.
The DBM has also cited Project DIME, which allows citizens to monitor major infrastructure projects using tools including drones, satellites and geotagging. Another initiative, a blockchain-based system for the Action Document Releasing System, is intended to improve the security and public accessibility of key budget documents.
The House of Representatives has separately said it intends to strengthen transparency measures during the 2027 budget deliberations, including public participation and safeguards in the appropriations process.
Why the 2027 Budget Matters
The proposed ₱7.2-trillion spending plan will determine how billions of pesos are allocated to areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, employment and social services.
For business groups and other observers, the issue is no longer simply how large the national budget becomes—but how transparently every peso is allocated and ultimately spent.
With Congress now examining the proposed spending program, scrutiny is expected to intensify over amendments, insertions and the final version that lawmakers will approve.
MAP’s message is clear: public funds must remain subject to public scrutiny, and no official or project should be beyond accountability.
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