Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The proposed unprogrammed appropriations (UA) for next year cannot be zeroed out, according to House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Jose Alvarez.He explained that the government needs standby funds for foreign-assisted projects and obligations, as well as for disasters and emergencies.But Alvarez noted that the House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee approved the proposal to remove locally funded infrastructure projects from the unprogrammed appropriations, to address doubts of possible fund abuse.(04:41) “Hindi mazi-zero, dahil mayroon tayong mga commitment doon sa ating mga foreign-funded projects... (04:04) “Kung may kalamidad, ma-access ng Palacio yung unprogrammed funds for calamities… (04:55) Ang unprogrammed naman, funded lang ‘yun ‘pag may extra funding... Basta wala ng senador, walang congressman ang pwede mag-access doon. Paggamit lamang ‘yun ng Palasyo para sa foreign-funded projects at saka sa mga calamities,” Alvarez explained.“So wala na ‘yung pagdududahan doon, magagamit na naman ito kung saan-saan gagamitin,” he added.House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno also defended the unprogrammed appropriations, saying it is “necessary” and would be “inefficient” to zero it out.“’Pag hindi mo nilagyan ng unprogrammed na ganyan, ‘pag may additional collections, wala kang pwedeng paglagyan nun. So ilalagyan mo ‘yun sa savings. Sa government budgeting, hindi efficient yung gano&#x27;n. Kasi kailangan, pag ang gobyerno ay kumikita, yung specific amount na within ‘yung guidelines ng expenditure program nila, kailangan mag-gastos ‘yun. Otherwise, the economy will slow down, maraming mga negative effects din. ‘Yung unprogrammed, hindi masama, kung gamitin sa tama,” he explained.“Kasi we cannot anticipate disasters. Hindi natin ma-anticipate ‘yung mga sakuna. So, for example, this year, nakadalawang malaking earthquake na tayo in the past week alone… Trabaho ng gobyerno kasi na maging responsive sa lahat na ‘yan. Sa tingin ko nararapat lang na mayroong nakalaan na potential increase in income to offset ‘yung unexpected disasters,” Puno added.Last Wednesday, the House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee approved the proposal to remove P35 billion in locally funded infrastructure and the P6.7 billion public health emergency benefits and allowances for healthcare workers from the proposed nearly P250 billion unprogrammed appropriations for 2026.But for Akbayan Party List Representative Chel Diokno, this is not enough.“Hindi sapat ang pasya ng House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee na bawasan ng ₽40B ang Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA), dahil higit ₽200B+ pa rin ang nakatago dito,” he said.“Itigil na ang mga palusot para maipilit lang ang UA. Kung kailangan ng dagdag pondo para sa loan obligations, may legal at malinaw na paraan: supplemental budget. At sa nabanggit ngMalacañang na kalamidad at emergency, may existing nang Contingent Fund na P13B at NDRRMF (Calamity Funds) na P31B.Deserve ng taumbayan malaman kung saan napupunta ang kanilang buwis. I-ZERO NA ANG UNPROGRAMMED APPROPRIATIONS,” Diokno added.Alvarez explained that the existing contingency funds in the regular budget may not be enough, and approving a supplemental budget could take time.“Supplemental budgeting, kung wala ka pa, matagal din ang proseso noon. So may prosesong dinadaanan yan… So kung ang palasyo mag-supplemental, dadaan ulit sa kongreso. So yun, parang budget 101, step number one,” he said.“Bigyan natin ng kaunting leeway,” Alvarez added.Puno also gave this assurance on the lower chamber’s proposed 2026 national budget.“‘Yung budget natin ngayon, sa tingin ko, walang masyadong insertion na,” he said.“I think I can assure everybody na the budget that is being passed here in the House satisfies all the demands and requirements of our development, it follows the ethical beliefs of our people, and it follows the economic plan of the government,” Puno added.<div>OVP BUDGET</div>There is possibility that the House of Representatives will retain the proposed P902.8 million budget for the Office of the Vice President, according to House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno.(02:20) “Of course, hindi maganda na hindi sumisipot ‘yung agency para ipaliwanag ‘yung kanilang budget. Siyempre, medyo sensitive ‘yung mga tao on both sides. But I think we should rise above that eh. I think alam naman natin na kung anong mga pangangailangan ng Office of the Vice President,” he explained.“As of now, I think there is no reduction or increase in that budget as against the National Accrediture Program submitted by DBM,” Puno added.Alvarez said that while he respects the view of some minority solons calling for a reduction in the OVP’s proposed budget, the total amount is already “meager”.“Lahat naman sila ay nire-respeto natin ‘yung kanilang boses. Lahat ng minoriya. Ngunit if you look at the budget of the OVP, maliit lang ‘yun eh. From P700 million to P900 million, an increase of P200 million. And I&#x27;m very happy to note na wala na ang confidential funds,” he explained.“Eh siguro pagbigyan na rin ng minoriya. ‘Yan ang aking suggestion,” Alvarez added.Minority congressmen issued the call after Vice President Sara Duterte failed to show up in the House plenary deliberations on her office’s budget, and imposed conditions for her attendance.“Doon sa unang hearing, dumalo naman siya, ‘di ba? I do not preclude na mayroon silang mga reason na bakit wala sila noong panahon na kailangan silang ma-interview,” Alvarez explained.The House of Representatives is expected to approve on second reading the proposed 2026 national budget on Friday, and on final reading on Monday.

House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Jose Alvarez said the government needs standby funds for foreign-assisted projects and obligations, as well as for disasters and emergencies.

House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Jose Alvarez said the government needs standby funds for foreign-assisted projects and obligations, as well as for disasters and emergencies.

Zero unprogrammed appropriations for 2026 not possible, lawmaker says

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Zero unprogrammed appropriations for 2026 not possible, lawmaker says

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 10, 2025 04:40 PM PHT

Read More:

congress

national budget

unprogrammed funds

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