Manila, Sept. 2 -- Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday assured the public of tighter Executive-Legislative coordination and vigilant oversight as Congress prepares for the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget.

Pangandaman said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would closely monitor bicameral proceedings to protect the people's budget from irregular realignments and to keep spending priorities aligned with the Marcos administration's national agenda.

"Babantayan po namin nang maigi ang budget ngayon (We will closely guard the budget this time)," Pangandaman told senators during a Senate finance panel hearing Monday.

The budget chief made the remarks to address concerns raised by Senat...