Manila, Aug. 18 -- The House of Representatives on Monday formally started the deliberations on the PHP6.793-trillion proposed national budget for 2026.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez vowed that the House would closely scrutinize the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) transmitted by the Department of Budget Management to Congress on Aug. 14.

"Bawat piso ay may pinaglalaanan, at bawat gastusin ay dapat may pakinabang sa tao (Every peso has a purpose, and every expense must benefit the person)," Romualdez told members of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) at the start of the House briefings on next year's outlay.

Four DBCC members briefed the House appropriations committee, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mika ...