Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito has committed to an open and transparent process for deliberating the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
As the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Ejercito acknowledged the intense workload that senators face, balancing morning impeachment sessions with afternoon plenary discussions.
"To be honest with you, it’s really exhausting. This is the only time I felt this in my entire stay in the Senate," Ejercito stated during an interview in Cebu City.
Budget Priorities and Accountability
Not all amendments and insertions are bad, but it should be done in open plenary.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito
Ejercito plans to prioritize funding for health care and infrastructure, particularly Universal Health Care, as part of his campaign commitments.
- Enhancing funding for PhilHealth to cover more beneficiaries.
- Completing existing flood-control projects before starting new ones.
He emphasized that the Finance Committee will thoroughly review proposed expenditures and ensure all budget changes are subject to public scrutiny.
Ejercito also expressed his intention to involve civil society organizations and the academic community in budget discussions, aiming for a more comprehensive review of government spending.
The committee's initial budget preparations will include briefings from the Development Budget Coordination Committee and economic managers on August 27 and 28.