CONGRESSMEN on Tuesday kicked off plenary debates on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, against the backdrop of ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects and anti-corruption protests. The House Committee on Appropriations approved House Bill No. The budget bill reached the House floor after 37 days of committee hearings, with deliberations marked by reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and restoring public trust in the budget process. The budget panel added P26.5 billion to the Education department’s budget, with P22.5 billion earmarked for classroom construction and P1.88 billion for school feeding programs, among others. Meanwhile, civil society groups on Tuesday accused the House sub-committee of budget maneuvering, alleging it convened without prior notice to reallocate billions of pesos in public funds in the budget.