Cabinet officials have reviewed the implementation of the 2026 national budget and discussed priority spending programs for 2027 as part of efforts to improve government service delivery and ensure the efficient use of public funds.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto led the whole-of-government budget review meeting on Monday, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the regular monitoring of budget utilization.

The meeting was held to address implementation bottlenecks and maximize the impact of government expenditures, the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) said in a statement on Thursday.

“We need to closely track the execution of the 2026 budget and finalize the 2027 national budget,” Recto said.

During the meeting, Recto assessed the status of agency budget implementation and urged departments to accelerate the delivery of government services.

He emphasized the need to ensure the immediate implementation of priority programs and projects in the second half of 2026.

Recto also reviewed the progress of the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) interventions, stressing the importance of prioritizing initiatives that provide immediate assistance to vulnerable sectors.

Among those who attended the meeting were by Budget Secretary Kim De Leon, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Baliscan.

Senior officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture also participated in the discussions. (PNA)