Ched Rick Gatchalian

Preparations go under way at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 20, 2022, leading towards the first State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on July 25. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

 

Article (news)

House appropriations chair open to reduce unprogrammed appropriations

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176095083192620220720-sona-congress-preps-md-11 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Preparations go under way at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 20, 2022, leading towards the first State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on July 25. <em style="text-align:left">Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FILE</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mikaela Suansing is open to discussing a reduction in the proposed P243.2 billion unprogrammed appropriations for 2026 during the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed national budget. </p><p>She issued the statement on Monday, after Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said the Senate will insist on limiting the 2026 unprogrammed funds to just foreign-assisted projects.</p><p>Of the total proposed 2026 unprogrammed appropriations, more than half or P133.1 billion are foreign assisted projects.</p><p>While Suansing is open to a reduction in the UA, she said limiting it to only foreign assisted projects would affect government “flexibility” in responding to emergencies.</p><p>“We lose our flexibility. So ang take ko po doon, I am very much open to reducing unprogrammed appropriations. Pero sana po we retain the purposes that are really needed,” Suansing said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/lawmaker-details-unprogrammed-appropriations-in-house-approved-2026-budget-1329">Lawmaker details unprogrammed appropriations in House-approved 2026 budget</a></div><p>&quot;Definitely we have to retain the P133B under FAPs as showed earlier. Nandiyan po yung P133B…. We need to retain some for AFP modernization... Budgetary support to GOCCs… Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Program… and sana po yung insurance premium… Kailangan po sana natin magtira just for unforeseen circumstances,” she added.</p><p>“Ang takot ko po, kung i-wipe out natin lahat ng laman ng unprogrammed appropriations, halimbawa ito po mga nakapaloob sa Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs. If there comes a time… magkaroon po ng malaking kalamidad, kung magkaroon po ng national health emergency na kailangan pong respondehan, kung hindi po natin bibigyan ng legal basis for funding these items, hindi po tayo makakabatak. Siguro po bukod po sa ngayong taon na nakabatak po tayo ng P5B para po tugunan at rumesponde po doon sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyo at lindol sa Masbate, Cebu at Davao, several instances in the past, in terms of COVID actually, unprogrammed appropriations ‘yung unang binatakan ng gobyerno para agad-agad na matulungan ‘yung mga health emergency practitioners, yung mga frontliners natin,” Suansing noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/1/marcos-orders-gov-t-agencies-to-mobilize-aid-for-quake-hit-cebu-0948">Marcos orders gov’t agencies to mobilize aid for quake-hit Cebu</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>NO &#x27;PORK&#x27;</strong></div><p>Suansing also denied there is “pork” in the proposed 2026 national budget, adding that unprogrammed appropriations are not lumpsum funds.</p><p>“Iniisip po kasi ng ilan na lump sum funds ‘yung unprogrammed appropriations. Hindi po totoo ito sapagkat meron po naka line item na mga programa at mga purpose sa ilalim po ng unprogrammed appropriations,” Suansing said.</p><p>“Wala pong mga nakatago na pondo, wala pong mga nakatago o mga nakabaon na mga programa. Kaya po atin po maibibigay ang kasiguraduhan sa ating mga kababayan na wala pong pork barrel funds sa ating budget para sa taong 2026 at sa mga susunod na taon po. Sa ilalim po na aking liderato bilang chairperson ng Committee on Appropriations,” she added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>NO &#x27;BACKDOOR&#x27; </strong></div><p>Suansing further denied claims of a supposed “backdoor” that could allow the use of unprogrammed funds for flood control projects, even if locally funded infrastructure is removed from the proposed 2026 UA.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/solon-warns-of-backdoor-for-funding-infra-in-unprogrammed-appropriations-1649">Solon warns of &#x27;backdoor&#x27; for funding infra in unprogrammed appropriations</a></div><p>She said the House has placed safeguard to ensure this will not happen.</p><p>“If you would see the purposes that we’ve allowed, wala na pong pwedeng pasukan ng flood control eh… So most definitely not locally funded. So even though DBM has the power to reallocate, if you would look at the safeguards that we&#x27;ve put in, wala na po dito na pwedeng pasukan ng locally-funded flood control projects. Even roads, even bridges, hindi na po pwede. The only infrastructure projects allowed here would be, especially under DPWH and DOTR, would be those pertaining to foreign assisted projects,” Suansing explained.</p><p>ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio said the proposed budget contains a special provision, which gives the Department of Budget and Management “wide latitude” to realign funds within the UA.</p><p>Suansing said only school buildings may be funded under the unprogrammed appropriations.</p><div> </div><div><strong>TRANSPARENCY</strong></div><p>Suansing, meanwhile, expressed support for livestreaming the bicameral conference committee meetings on the proposed 2026 national budget.</p><p>She is also open to exploring calls to expand minority representation in the bicam, and plans to reach out to civil society organizations for greater transparency in the budget process, including the bicam.</p><p>The House Appropriations Committee Chairperson further supports limiting the bicam discussions to the disagreeing provisions of the House and Senate versions of the proposed 2026 national budget.</p><p>“Definitely wala pong magiging reincarnation yung AKAP. That’s an assurance that we can give on the part of the House,” Suansing said.</p><p>“That is the goal, na ‘yung disagreeing provisions po ng House at ng Senado yung ating tatalakayan sa Bicam… Ayaw po natin na magkaroon ng isang buong panibagong body na para bang gumawa ka ng pangatlong level.. na babaguhin mo lahat,” she added.</p>

<p>House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mikaela Suansing is open to discussing a reduction in the proposed P243.2 billion unprogrammed appropriations for 2026 during the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed national budget.</p>

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mikaela Suansing is open to discussing a reduction in the proposed P243.2 billion unprogrammed appropriations for 2026 during the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed national budget.

House appropriations chair denies 'pork', 'backdoor' for funding flood control projects

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House appropriations chair denies 'pork', 'backdoor' for funding flood control projects

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 20, 2025 05:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Committee on Appropriations

Budget

Mikaela Suansing

Unprogrammed Funds

Bicam

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