Marilyn Cahatol

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives  minutes before it opens for the first regular session for the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025.    Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña on Friday said they would be pushing to zero out the P238 billion unprogrammed appropriations as the House of Representatives is set to approve the 2026 national budget in second reading.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/what-are-unprogrammed-funds-gatchalian-says-they-are-pork-barrel-1225">What are &#x27;unprogrammed&#x27; funds? Gatchalian says they are &#x27;pork barrel&#x27;</a></div><p>“The only acceptable figure for Akbayan, really for unprogrammed appropriations, given the experience, given how it has been abused in the past, is still zero,” he told ANC’s Headstart.</p><p>The House is scheduled today to pass the budget bill on second reading, wherein the chamber deliberates for possible amendments.</p><p>Cendaña said the unprogrammed appropriations remain at P238 billion, even after the Committee on Appropriations’ Budget Amendments Review Sub-Committee (BARC) removed some P35 billion for Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) and P6.7 billion for healthcare workers’ allowance that had been paid out.</p><p>P30 billion, however, was added to the foreign-assisted projects, which also fall under UA, he said.</p><p>The lawmaker said they already sought the Department of Budget and Management and House Committee on Appropriations’ reasons why foreign-assisted projects are in unprogrammed funds.</p><p>&quot;So if these programs are really important, then therefore, there should be program at dapat bahagi ito ng ating line item budget.”  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/-sinira-ang-reputation-natin-marcos-jr-blasts-lack-of-funding-in-foreign-assisted-projects-1916">‘Sinira ang reputation natin’: Marcos Jr. blasts lack of funding in foreign-assisted projects</a></div><p>Cendaña noted that 70 percent of the UA are for infrastructure projects, saying: “alam naman natin kapag nandiyan ang infrastructure, nandiyan din yung source of leakage and corruption.”</p><p>He said UA should be reallocated to education, health, and other social services.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/lawmaker-eyes-realigning-proposed-2026-flood-control-funds-to-doh-1818">Lawmaker eyes realigning proposed 2026 flood control funds to DOH</a></div><p>Aside from the UA and the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said Akbayan is also looking into the budget appropriations for the Department of Education and Department of Health, especially after reports of ghost hospital projects.</p><p>His co-Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has filed a House resolution seeking to investigate the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/doh-s-version-of-flood-control-scam-600-health-centers-but-only-200-operational-0821">alleged irregularities</a> in DOH health centers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OPEN BICAM </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Cendaña reiterated the calls for the Senate and House of Representatives to adopt an open bicameral conference committee process to heed the public’s call for greater transparency.</p><p>He said the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/house-resolution-seeks-to-open-budget-hearings-to-civil-society-observers-1429">House </a>and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/30/senate-open-to-making-bicam-deliberations-more-transparent-1123">Senate </a>leadership expressed support for the call based on their informal talks.</p><p>Aside from this, he said the “small committee,” where most insertions were reported to be made without proper record, should be scrapped.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/zaldy-co-proposed-p13-8-b-insertions-for-flood-control-other-infra-in-2025-budget-1142">Zaldy Co proposed P13.8 billion insertions for flood control, other infra in 2025 budget: Tiangco</a></div><p>“Ngayon, ang panawagan natin, dapat lahat ng major decisions should be done sa bicameral conference committee. Kinakailangang isantabi na iyang small committee kasi kaya nga nag-elect ng representatives to the bicam ang House of Representatives at Senado kasi sila yung pinagkatiwalaang gumawa ng desisyon,” he said.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u7ZGBJSsEgM?si=gomPM5QhXu6x2_w6" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>“The only acceptable figure for Akbayan for unprogrammed appropriations, given how it has been abused in the past, is still zero,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said.</p>

“The only acceptable figure for Akbayan for unprogrammed appropriations, given how it has been abused in the past, is still zero,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said.

Lawmaker aims to scrap P238-B unprogrammed funds from 2026 budget

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Lawmaker aims to scrap P238-B unprogrammed funds from 2026 budget

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 10, 2025 10:47 AM PHT

Read More:

Perci Cendana

Akbayan

Unprogrammed Appropriations

Budget

House of Representatives

Senate

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