THE newly-created Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) should actively participate in crafting the proposed 2026 national budget, not just set macroeconomic assumptions to support Malacañang’s spending plan, Sen. Imee Marcos said yesterday.
Marcos said RA 12145, which reorganized the former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), gave DEPDev a “stronger mandate to steer the country’s economic direction through data-driven policies, long term planning, and rigorous oversight of national projects.”
“With this law, we hope to restore DEPDev as the lead agency in shaping the nation’s economic future. It should no longer be sidelined, but must now take center stage in budget planning and economic strategy,” Marcos said in a statement.
She said DePDev’s role must go beyond simply setting macroeconomic parameters, stressing that it should be “at the core of the budget process – helping design how funds are allocated to truly address national priorities and long-term development goals.”
Marcos likewise said DEPDev should not allow short-term financial assistance programs eat up a big chunk of the national budget, which she said are only being used for political purposes.
“DEPDev should ensure that the 2026 budget moves away from temporary relief programs like AKAP (Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program), AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations), or TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers), and instead focus on structural reforms that can deliver real, lasting progress,” she said.
