Malacañang asserted that the government will meet the target date for the passage of the 2026 national budget despite the changes in the administration’s economic managers.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the designation of new heads for the Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would not disrupt the budget process.

The Palace announced the other day that Finance Secretary Ralph Recto would replace Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, while Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go would assume Recto’s post.

At the same time, the Palace said Budget and Management Undersecretary Rolando Toledo would replace Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in an officer-in-charge capacity.

“We were able to talk to Secretary Go and according to him, (on the) reassignments of the Cabinet members to DOF and DBM, they are all the same people who worked on the budget, who worked on the finances. So there will be no problem with that,” Castro said.

“Yes, there will be (the timely passage of the national budget). They are working on that,” Castro added.

The House of Representatives approved the P6.793 trillion spending plan last October 13, while the Senate is conducting last-stage plenary debates for the proposed 2026 national budget.

The Senate and the House of Representatives would reconcile their respective budget versions through the bicameral conference committee and submit the final version to Malacañang for approval.

Malacañang on Monday announced that Marcos has accepted the resignations of Bersamin and Pangandaman, who left voluntarily to give way to the ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

The Palace also said Marcos has accepted the resignation of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

In accepting their resignation, Marcos extended his gratitude to Bersamin and Pangandaman for their exemplary leadership and invaluable contributions to their respective offices. Presidential News Desk