ABAD: 2026 BUDGET STRAINED BY DEBT PAYMENTS Former DBM Secretary Butch Abad told Atty. Edwin Lacierda and Nani Braganza that debt servicing alone consumes roughly half of the government’s revenues, highlighting the strain on the 2026 budget. He explained that with an approved budget of ₱6.735 trillion, the government must borrow ₱2.7 trillion to cover a ₱1.6 trillion deficit and repay ₱1.1 trillion in principal, leaving limited room for actual spending. More on this in the full episode of #TheSp