Marcos vetoes P92.5-B unprogrammed funds in 2026 budget

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday that he vetoed nearly P92.5-billion worth of line items under the unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 

The President made the announcement after signing the P6.793-trillion budget for fiscal year 2026. 

According to Marcos, the unprogrammed funds under the 2026 GAA were reduced to its “absolute bare minimum,” or at the level lowest since 2019, to ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interests.

“Let me be clear—the unprogrammed appropriations are not blank checks. We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a backdoor for discretionary spending,” the President said. 

“Its utilization is provided with safeguards and is only available when clearly defined triggers and tests are met and will be released only after careful validation,” he added. 

Marcos said that his administration will enforce such safeguards “without exceptions” to serve the public interest and to advance the national development goals. 

“We will make releases charged from the [unprogrammed appropriations] transparent, providing the necessary details on the funding source and the corresponding purpose,” he said. 

He also directed the national government, especially concerned departments and agencies, to exercise prudent fiscal management to ensure uninterrupted quality public service. 

“Sa ating mga kababayan, dama po namin ang inyong agam-agam at pangamba sa nakaraang budget. Kaisa ninyo ako sa pagnanais na masiguro ang bawat pisong buwis ay mapupunta sa tamang proyekto at sa tunay na pangangailangan ng ating taumbayan,” Marcos said. 

(To our countrymen, we know your doubts and fears about the previous national budget. I am with you in the desire to ensure that every peso of our taxes goes to the right projects and the real needs of our people.)

To recall, the Bicameral Conference Committee had restored the unprogrammed funds to P243 billion. 

Vetoed items

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, during a press briefing, said some of the vetoed line items under the 2026 GAA are the following:

• Budgetary support for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) —P6.895 million
• Fiscal support for Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program —P4.32 billion
• Insurance for government assets —P2 billion
• Prior years LGU shares —P14 million
• RAISE program —P250,000
• GOP counterparts, foreign assistant projects —P35.769 million
• Payment of PS requirement —P43.345 billion
• Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) —P80 billion
• Public Health Emergency Benefits —P6.7 billion
• Marawi Siege Victims' Compensation Fund —P2 billion

''Ang natira na lang ay tatlong items: support to foreign-assisted projects na P97.305 billion; revised AFP Modernization Program na P50 billion; at Risk Management Program na P3.6 billion," Recto added.

(Only three items remained: support to foreign-assisted projects na P97. 305 billion; revised AFP Modernization Program na P50 billion; at Risk Management Program na P3.6 billion.)

Senate finance committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, however, stood firm that there would no longer be a source of corruption in the unprogrammed appropriations, as the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP), which previously housed lump-sum funds for government infrastructure projects and social services, has been removed from the proposed spending plan.  

Unprogrammed appropriations are budget items that will only be funded if there is excess government revenue and other funding sources, such as loans or special laws.

For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Marcos wanted the 2026 budget to be “squeaky clean” by vetoing the P92.5-billion worth of unprogrammed funds. 

“I know the 2026 budget is by far the cleanest ever but it seems the President wants it squeaky clean. He even highlighted the Senate provision that prevents political patronage by politicians,” he told reporters in a Viber message. —with Sundy Locus/KG/AOL, GMA Integrated News