Manila, Sept. 2 -- Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday assured senators that the proposed PHP6.79-trillion national budget for 2026 would focus on projects with the "highest multiplier effect".

Recto, speaking before the Development Budget Coordination Committee's briefing at the Senate, said the National Expenditure Program was designed to fund infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, and social welfare.

"Walang ghost projects dapat. Walang kurapsyon. Walang sayang na piso (There should be no ghost projects. No corruption. No wasted peso)," Recto said, adding that good spending is the best way to encourage tax compliance.

He said the government would allocate 5 to 6 percent of gross domestic product for infrastructure, 4 p...