Deliberations on the 2026 national budget have been held off until the errors in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) have been amended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), said the House Deputy Speaker on Wednesday.

The leadership of the House of Representatives has decided to send back the 2026 NEP to the DBM, which has admitted to the budget proposal containing erroneous provisions, said Deputy Speaker Ronaldo V. Puno.

“‘Yung problema namin talaga, is ayaw namin tanggapin itong basurang trabaho, tapos kami na naman ang masisisi. If we solve it, sasabihin na rinealign namin ‘yung buong budget … If we don’t touch it, ‘di parang complicit na kami sa lahat ng kalokohan na nakikita namin,” he said.

“Sala sa init, sala sa lamig e, diba? Kawawa naman ang mga members namin,” he added.

Puno clarified that the legislative body will be waiting for House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s decision, although they have already chosen to return the NEP.

Earlier, Senators Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson noted anomalous flood control projects inserted in the NEP, amid the controversy surrounding these.