Solons want unprogrammed funds removed or itemized in 2026 budget

Amid the alleged massive misuse of flood control project funds, several lawmakers have called for the removal of the unprogrammed funds or the itemization of projects under the said appropriation.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said unprogrammed appropriations should get zero budget next year.

He said P97.2 billion is earmarked for foreign-assisted infrastructure projects and P80.9 billion for the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) under the unprogrammed appropriations.

"Kung susumahin, halos 70% ng unprogrammed appropriations sa 2026 budget ay for infrastructure projects. We could have invested in health — pero lamang pa ng P3 billion ang Unprogrammed Appropriations kumpara sa DOH budget. We could have invested in education. Pero bakit puro infra pa rin?", Cendaña said.

He said that SAGIP has been linked to the release of funds for controversial flood control projects. 

"We have to zero out the unprogrammed appropriations budget until we ensure that our institutions are immune from corruption. Huwag na nating payagan na patuloy na abusuhin ang kaban ng bayan," he added.

The Department of Budget and Management defines unprogrammed appropriations as those that provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets, and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.

In simple terms, unprogrammed appropriations are akin to planned household purchases that may only proceed if extra money is available, either from additional income, like bonuses or from loans.

House appropriations panel chairperson and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing earlier said the DBM released P141 billion for flood control projects in 2023 and 2024 from unprogrammed appropriations.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure is investigating alleged massive corruption in the use of flood control funds that resulted in several substandard or ghost projects.

Appropriations committee vice chairperson Zia Alonto Adiong supports limiting unprogrammed appropriations.

"I think it's proper also that we should still limit, restrict itong unprogrammed funds. I would personally support any move to make it known and to itemize it and to include that in the budgetary entries rather than have it some sort of a lump sum unprogrammed funds," he told reporters in an interview.

House Infrastructure Committee co-chairperson Terry Ridon agrees with line-item budgeting for new infrastructure projects.

"Ang posisyon po natin ng unprogrammed appropriations, dapat pagka hindi emergency or hindi disaster-based yun pong appropriations for unprogrammed appropriations, dapat wala na pong ganoon," Ridon told reporters in an interview.

"Puwede po tayong magkaroon ng rehabilitation ng infrastructure. Pagka, halimbawa, nasira sa panahon po ng lindol, kung ganyan po yung gagawin natin for Cebu, wala po tayong problema. Pero kung magkakaroon po tayo ng new construction, parang hindi po dapat sa unprogrammed appropriations nanggagaling po ito. Dapat new appropriations po ito. It should be subject to line item budgeting in a new budget," he added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News