House subcommittee slashes unprogrammed funds in 2026 national budget

The Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee of the House appropriations committee has slashed the funding for some items under unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed P 6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

House appropriations committee chair and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing said funding for local infrastructure projects may no longer be sourced from the P80.86 billion allocation under the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP).

She said the SAGIP allocation was reduced to P45 billion for foreign-assisted projects and will be now called the Strengthening Assistance for Government Programs (SAGP).

“Ang nangyari po ng mga nakaraan ay bumatak po galing sa SAGIP to fund infrastructure projects. Some of which are flood control projects. So tinitingnan po natin ano po yung puwede natin gawin. Para sa 2026 at sa mga susunod na taon, wala na po yung ganoon. Ibig sabihin, hindi na po makakabatak ng infrastructure projects from SAGIP,” the House leader said.

(What happened in the past was that the SAGIP was used to fund infrastructure projects. Some of which are flood control projects. So we looked at our options, so that there will be repeat of that in 2026 and in succeeding years. This means the SAGIP can no longer be tapped for infrastructure projects.)

The BARSc of the House appropriations panel also removed P6.7 billion for public health emergency allowances from the unprogrammed funds.

“The suggestion of the DBM is to remove it already... Kasi nabayaran na po lahat as of 2025,” Suansing said.

(The suggestion of the DBM is to remove it already because it has been settled as of 2025.)

Unprogrammed funds – which can be activated only when there is excess revenue collection or funds from foreign loans or grants – is at P250 billion under the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

Some of the previous items under unprogrammed appropriations are: P80.86 billion for Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs; P97.3 billion for foreign-assisted projects; P50 billion for the revised military modernization program; and P6.7 billion for health emergency allowances.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he will push to remove unprogrammed funds in the national budget for next year - a proposal that got the backing of opposition lawmakers in the lower chamber.

However, Malacañang said this is unlikely to happen, adding that there are enough safeguards prior to the disbursement of these allocations.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro said unprogrammed funds are used for government programs and in times of emergency cases and situations. — JMA, GMA Integrated News