2027 budget priorities outlined

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that it will prioritize high-impact sectors such as infrastructure, food security, and human capital development for the 2027 budget proposals.

Under National Budget Memorandum No. 157, the DBM said Tier-2 expenditure directions, which involves new spending and expansion of project, activity or programs, based on the gaps and strategies outlined in the Executive Report 2026 and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 Midterm Update.

“As the country is nearing the final phase of implementing the PDP 2023-2028, the Marcos, Jr. administration shall focus resources on strategic sectors to achieve social and economic transformation,” it said.

“These priorities — infrastructure, human capital development, food security, climate and disaster resilience, and digitalization, among others — are anchored on the President’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and aligned with the AmBisyon Natin 2040 and the 2030 Sustainable Agenda,” it added.

To optimize allocation of the limited fiscal space, the DBM said that the programs, activities and projects to be included in the budget “must be implementation ready and shall only pertain to the cash requirements.”

“The departments/agencies are reminded to tightly prioritize their proposals given limited fiscal space. Hence, agencies should limit their proposals to a maximum of five only,” it added.

To prove that the programs, activities and projects are shovel-ready, the DBM asked the agencies to submit supporting documents, including feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, detailed work and financial plans, and right-of-way acquisitions.

“The Tier 2 proposals shall be submitted to DBM through the Online Submission of Budget Proposals System v2.Q on or before April 24,” it added.

Meanwhile, the DBM set the budget ceiling for Tier 1 spending at P3.69 trillion for 2027. The DBM’s forward estimates of Tier-1 spending for 2028 and 2029 are P3.27 trillion and P3 trillion, respectively. — Justine Irish D. Tabile