The Senate Finance Subcommittee A on Tuesday examined the proposed ₱43.65 billion budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies for fiscal year 2026, focusing on how the department plans to convert its funding into concrete, measurable reforms in the justice system.

During the budget briefing, lawmakers evaluated the DOJ’s strategies for addressing long-standing challenges such as jail congestion, human rights protection, and institutional accountability. Senators sought clearer indicators of progress and stronger assurances that reforms are benefiting ordinary Filipinos.

Under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DOJ is seeking a total appropriation of ₱43.65 billion, broken down as follows:

• ₱10.84 billion – Office of the Secretary
• ₱10.09 billion – Bureau of Corrections
• ₱6.69 billion – Public Attorney’s Office
• ₱5.38 billion – Bureau of Immigration
• ₱3.745 billion – National Bureau of Investigation
• ₱2.884 billion – Land Registration Authority
• ₱1.94 billion – Office of the Solicitor General
• ₱1.278 billion – Parole and Probation Administration
• ₱317 million – Office of the Government Corporate Counsel
• ₱310 million – Presidential Commission on Good Government
• ₱166 million – Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Justice officials reiterated the department’s commitment to upholding due process and strengthening access to justice, particularly for marginalized sectors.

Senators, however, emphasized the need for tangible outcomes that would reflect the DOJ’s reform agenda on the ground.

The panel is expected to submit its recommendations to the Senate Committee on Finance ahead of plenary deliberations on the 2026 national budget.