Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - A lawmaker has warned of a supposed “backdoor” that could allow the use of unprogrammed funds for infrastructure projects, even if locally funded infrastructure is removed from the proposed unprogrammed appropriations (UA) for 2026.</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>“Bagaman headline, parang iwinawasiwas ng House na tinanggal na ‘yung infrastructure projects from unprogrammed appropriations. Actually, may backdoor pa rin dito. Kung gusto nila, ay pwedeng kargahan pa rin ng infrastructure projects ang unprogrammed appropriations, at Presidente ang may say dito, kasi ayon sa batas, basta lump sum appropriation, Presidente ang nag-a-approve,” Tinio asserted.</p><p>“The impression is, pang-ayuda na lang ito. Kung kailangan ng dagdag na ayuda at may excess revenue, pwedeng gamitin para sa dagdag na ayuda ng gobyerno. However... mayroong P4.9 billion na natira, nilagay nila sa capital outlay... Para saan ba ang capital outlay? Pang infra, among others. So pwede pa rin gamitin ito for infrastructure projects,” he explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/lawmaker-details-unprogrammed-appropriations-in-house-approved-2026-budget-1329"><strong>Lawmaker details unprogrammed appropriations in House-approved 2026 budget</strong></a></div><p>“Mayroong probisyon sa unprogrammed appropriations na nagpapahintulot sa DBM na dagdagan ito ng kahit magkano mula sa ibang mga pondo ng unprogrammed appropriations. ‘Yun ‘yung isa sa pinatatanggal natin during the period of amendments- the special provision number 9, amounts under the unprogrammed appropriations, which gives the DBM wide latitude in realigning funds within the unprogrammed appropriations,” Tinio added.</p><p>Despite criticisms, more than P243 billion in unprogrammed appropriations were retained in the proposed 2026 national budget, which was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on Monday.</p><p>In the past, some questionable flood control projects were supposedly inserted in the UA.</p><p>But House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing had repeatedly gave assurances locally funded infrastructure projects were already removed from the UA to prevent possible abuse.</p><p>Tinio and Akbayan Party List Chel Diokno, however, questioned the need for such “huge” standby funds, when they could either be in the regular budget or part of a request for supplemental budget.</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"><strong>What are &#x27;unprogrammed&#x27; funds? Gatchalian says they are &#x27;pork barrel&#x27; </strong></a></div><p>“Hindi ‘yan katulad ng programmed or regular budget na bukod sa program, mayroon pang line item na may further breakdowns. Kaya ‘yan ang isang problema nga dyan,” Tinio said.</p><p>“Ang UA, ang nangyayari diyan, ipinauubaya ‘yung kung kailan gagamitin, kung paano at saan gagamitin sa Executive Department. Kaya vulnerable talaga siya sa misuse or abuse, pati sa paggamit sa pork. Kaya kailangan bantayan nang maigi ‘yan,” Diokno for his part, said.</p><p>“Kung sa regular budget ‘yan, kung ano lang ‘yung nasa regular budget, ‘yun lang dapat pwedeng paggamitan noon. Kaya nga nagiging issue itong unprogrammed dahil doon nagkakaroon ng sabihin na lang nating mga magic magic,” he added.</p><p>They urged the Senate to zero out the UA. And should the government need additional funds in the future, it could request for a supplemental budget.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/13/house-approves-p6-79-trillion-2026-national-budget-2050"><strong>House approves P6.79-trillion 2026 national budget </strong></a> </div><p>“Pwede namang nasa programmed lahat ‘yan. At kung hindi na talaga nila kayang ibalik sa programmed, sundin nila ang Konstitusyon. Ang itinatakda ng Konstitusyon, kung may kailangang pondohan ng gobyerno na hindi naisama sa program budget, mag-submit sila ng supplemental budget. Supplemental Appropriations Bill,” Tinio said.</p><div><strong>NEITHER DISCRETIONARY NOR SECRET</strong></div><p>Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman asserted that unprogrammed funds are neither discretionary nor secret funds, adding that they serve as the government’s financial lifeline in times of calamities, for rapid disaster response.</p><p>“Unprogrammed appropriations are not discretionary or secret funds, but standby allocations duly authorized and approved by Congress. These funds can only be accessed when there are excess or windfall revenues, new revenue measures, or valid loan agreements for foreign-assisted projects,” she explained. </p><p>“UAs usually serve as fiscal buffers, enabling the government to respond to unforeseen needs or urgent national priorities without breaching the fiscal program approved by Congress,” Pangandaman added.</p><p>She stressed that the authority to “introduce, realign, or amend items” in the national budget rests solely with Congress.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/10/10/house-rejects-diokno-s-proposal-to-remove-p243-2-b-unprogrammed-funds-in-2026-budget-1816"><strong>House rejects Diokno&#x27;s proposal to remove P243.2-B unprogrammed funds in 2026 budget</strong></a></div><p>“Once the President submits the proposed NEP to Congress, the Executive’s role—through the DBM—is limited to explaining, clarifying, and defending the proposed allocations. The authority to introduce, realign, or amend items rests solely with the legislative branch,” Pangandaman said.</p><p>PORK BARREL?</p><p>The ACT Teachers solon further claimed that the pork barrel system continues to exist in the proposed 2026 national budget, with “allocables” for lawmakers.</p><p>“Yes, tinanggal ang flood control, pero ‘yung mga allocation ng mga kongresista para sa flood control, nilagay lang nila sa ibang porma ng infrastructure. ‘Yung mga kalsada, mga tulay, multipurpose buildings, farm to market roads, classrooms,” he said.</p><p>“In other words, nananatili yung pork barrel system, nananatili pa rin yung posibilidad na rigged ang mga bidding, pare-pareho pa rin ang mga contractors na involved, at nandyan pa rin ‘yung kalakaran ng SOP or kickback. Kaya hindi nawawala. Habang hindi nababago ang sistema nito, ay most likely mauulit muli ang corruption,” Tinio added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/marcos-jr-to-decide-on-2026-budget-veto-after-bicam-malaca-ang-1617"><strong>Marcos Jr. to decide on 2026 budget veto after bicam: Malacañang</strong></a></div><p>“Sa halip na mawala talaga ‘yung pork barrel system, itinago. Naging hidden ‘yung sistema ng entitlements or allocations, o ‘yung termino ngayon, “allocables” ng mga legislators, itinago ‘yan, at dahil itinago, lumaki nang lumaki. Kaya iba na ang level ng mga entitlements or allocations ng mga Kongresista at Senador ngayon. Ang binanggit namin sa aming statement, minimum of P230 million for infrastructure projects per congressman, at up to P3.2 billion or minimum of P3.2 billion per senator. Para sa mga infrastructure projects alone, nananatili pa rin po yan. Kaya, habang may pork barrel system, nandyan ang corruption,” he explained.</p><p>OPEN BICAM</p><p>Tinio and Diokno both hope the House will be able to adopt the resolution seeking to open bicameral conference committee meetings on the national budget.</p><p>But Tinio said lawmakers should also truly make an effort to make the public understand the developments in the budget process.</p><p>“Kailangan pa rin tiyakin na talagang open siya. Ibig sabihin, madaling maintindihan ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Kasi ‘yun ang kinakailangan natin ngayon at yan ang hinihingi ng taumbayan. Hindi yung puro mga technicalit</p><div>  </div><p>RELATED VIDEO</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tu6-8cg1wvI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A lawmaker has warned of a supposed “backdoor” that could allow the use of unprogrammed funds for infrastructure projects, even if locally funded infrastructure is removed from the proposed unprogrammed appropriations (UA) for 2026.</p>

A lawmaker has warned of a supposed “backdoor” that could allow the use of unprogrammed funds for infrastructure projects, even if locally funded infrastructure is removed from the proposed unprogrammed appropriations (UA) for 2026.

Solon warns of 'backdoor' for funding infra in unprogrammed appropriations

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Solon warns of 'backdoor' for funding infra in unprogrammed appropriations

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 14, 2025 04:49 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Antonio Tinio

Unprogrammed Appropriations

2026 national budget

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