13/08/2026
Marcos Jr’s P7.2-Tr bloated budget is not for the people – KMP
The proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 is a clear reflection of the Marcos regime’s continuing anti-people priorities: bigger spending, bigger debt, but no fundamental shift toward addressing poverty, landlessness, hunger and the worsening crisis in agriculture.
Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the proposed budget is being presented as a “people-centered” spending plan, but its sheer amount does not make it a pro-people budget. The proposed 2027 budget is P407 billion higher than this year’s P6.7-trillion budget. Yet the increase comes amid a slowing economy, with GDP growth falling to just 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026, while government borrowing and debt continue to rise.
The national government is projected to borrow around P3.3 trillion in 2027, with outstanding debt expected to reach P21.48 trillion by year-end. The proposed deficit is estimated at around P1.69 trillion.
For KMP, this means that ordinary Filipinos, including farmers, will continue to shoulder the burden of government debt while public funds are poured into militarization, corruption-ridden infrastructure projects and other spending that do not address the roots of poverty.
“The Marcos regime is celebrating a P7.2-trillion budget as if bigger spending automatically means progress. For farmers, fishers, and rural sectors, what matters is whether this budget will lower the cost of production, provide free irrigation, raise farmers’ incomes and put food on every Filipino family’s table. So far, the answer remains no,” said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.
The government claims that social services will receive the largest sectoral allocation at P2.456 trillion, while economic services will get P1.833 trillion. Agriculture is allocated P261.7 billion, while national defense gets P328.8 billion. But the farmers’ group warned against accepting these figures at face value.
Behind the headline numbers are billions allocated for debt servicing, government operations, infrastructure and defense expenditures. Meanwhile, farmers continue to face high production costs, low farmgate prices, inadequate irrigation, landlessness, displacement and declining agricultural employment.
Marcos and his fiscal priorities are far from addressing even the most basic problems. The government has money for weapons, confidential funds and massive infrastructure, but farmers are still begging for production subsidies, compensation for damaged crops, free irrigation, affordable fertilizer, and more,” Ramos said.
KMP also condemned the continued allocation of P10.773 billion for confidential and intelligence funds, saying these funds should instead be redirected to agriculture, health, education, disaster response and other services needed by the public.
“After the “Mahiya naman kayo” flood-control scandal, Marcos cannot simply ask for a higher budget and expect Filipinos to trust his regime. Farmers and rural sectors will actively scrutinize this budget. We will monitor every allocation that affects our communities, question irregular expenditures and expose funds that are being diverted away from genuine public service. The budget is from taxpayers’ money, and the people have every right to examine it,” Ramos said.
KMP called on farmers, workers, fisherfolk, students, professionals and other sectors to closely monitor the congressional budget deliberations and demand transparency and accountability. The group also warned against last-minute insertions, pork barrel-type allocations, bloated infrastructure projects, excessive intelligence and confidential funds, and appropriations that serve private and political interests.
“We call on the Filipino people to be vigilant. Do not allow Marcos and his allies to treat the national budget as their personal war chest. Every peso comes from the people. Every peso must serve the people,” Ramos said.
“The people need a budget for genuine land reform, food production, job generation and delivery of basic services – not a budget for debt, militarization and corruption,” Ramos concluded. # # #