Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SONA

RG Cruz

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/175826691674420230801-ph-senate-win-gatchalian-SPRIB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) confirmed that the unprogrammed funds in past national budgets were tapped for flood control projects, which Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said may have gone to contractors tagged in anomalous flood control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/a-deeper-look-into-marcos-s-list-of-top-flood-control-contractors-0037">A deeper look into Marcos’s list of top flood control contractors</a></div><p>&quot;Your Honor, yes, Mr. Chair, we have funded some flood control projects under the unprogrammed appropriations,&quot; DBM Undersecretary Rolando Toledo said during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Thursday.</p><p>However, they are not itemized in the budget.</p><p>&quot;Itong mga flood control projects, are these specified in the GAA? Naka-line item ba sila? Kasi, unlike sa programmed, nakasulat sa libro iyon, iyong pinakita ni Senator Joel [Villanueva]. Lahat nakasulat sa libro iyon. So, sa unprogrammed ba naka-ano siya, naka-line item siya?&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/lacson-alleged-estrada-insertions-seen-in-2025-budget-none-for-villanueva-1347">Lacson: Alleged Estrada insertions seen in 2025 GAA; Villanueva&#x27;s in 2023 unprogrammed funds</a></div><p>&quot;There is no list of unprogrammed appropriations for unprogrammed—rather, for flood control projects, Mr. Chair,&quot; Toledo replied.</p><p>Gatchalian believes the unprogrammed funds have become a form of pork barrel.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT ARE THEY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Unprogrammed Appropriations provide standby authority to incur obligations for priority programs or projects when any of the following exists: </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/-kayang-kaya-niya-marcos-trusts-dizon-can-clean-up-dpwh-1348">&#x27;Kayang-kaya niya&#x27;: Marcos trusts Dizon can clean up DPWH amid flood control mess</a></div><p>(a) Excess revenue collections in the total tax revenues or any of the identified non-tax revenue sources from its corresponding revenue collection target, as reflected in the BESF submitted by the President</p><p>(b) New revenue collections or those arising from new tax or non-tax sources which are not part of, nor included in, the original revenue sources reflected in the BESF</p><p>(c) Approved loans for foreign-assisted projects</p><p>d) Fund balance of the Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations from (GOCCs) from any remainder resulting from the review and reduction of their reserve funds to reasonable levels taking into account the disbursement from prior years</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LUMP SUM</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Gatchalian pointed out it is a lump sum.</p><p>&quot;So, walang line item diyan. Hindi natin alam kung ano iyong mapopondohan, correct?&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><p>&quot;Yes. Basically, Mr. Chair, it is a request from the agencies and, in this particular case, the Department of Public Works and Highways. They have to submit the special budget request for us, of course, with the supporting documents that these projects have been evaluated and ready for implementation, Mr. Chair,&quot; Toledo explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/16/dizon-lifts-suspension-on-procurement-for-locally-funded-civil-works-1556">DPWH chief Dizon lifts suspension on procurement for locally-funded civil works</a></div><p>&quot;So, basically, this is being approved by the Department of Budget and Management, the secretary, who will be the one to sign, of course, the release documents for those requests for flood control under the unprogrammed appropriations,&quot; Toledo added.</p><p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta believes resigned Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral may have a say in it.</p><p>Toledo said about P34 billion was spent for flood control under unprogrammed funds in 2023, and about P107.9 billion in 2024.</p><p>Gatchalian then points out which contractor tagged in anomalous flood control projects got unprogrammed funds.</p><p>&quot;And may napansin kami na iyong Wawao Builders—mayroong project ang Wawao Builders worth P1.5 billion, wala ho sa NEP at sa GAA.... Hindi ho namin mahanap kung paano napondohan. This is only one contractor we tested. So, hindi ho namin mahanap,&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><p>&quot;And then, pina-submit namin iyong DBM kung ano po iyong mga SARO nila sa unprogrammed amounts——we saw that iyong Wawao Builders napondohan iyong kaniyang mga projects through unprogrammed amounts, na hindi ho naka-line item sa GAA,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;LUMOBO&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Sen. Imee Marcos noted the sharp rise in unprogrammed funds over the years.</p><p>&quot;Itong unprogrammed, lumobo nang katakot-takot. Alam natin iyan. At noong 2021, nasa P176 billion. Noong 2022, naging P251 pero kasama diyan iyong COVID procurement ng vaccines; kasama rin niyan iyong mga health workers incentives. Noong 2023, from P251, naging P807 [billion],&quot; Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/solon-pushes-for-lower-dpwh-project-costs-dizon-vows-review-of-pricing-system-0026">Solon pushes for lower DPWH project costs; Dizon vows review of pricing system</a></div><p>&quot;Baka iyong ating mga hinahanap na mga ghost project, ghost ab initio. Sa umpisa pa lamang, ghost na sila kasi nasa listahan ng unprogrammed na ang tanging nakasabi lamang, &#x27;government infrastructure projects.&#x27; Noong 2023, naging P807.16 billion. Walang listahan. Walang nakakaalam. Ang magic nasa DBM po. 2024, naging P731.45,&quot; she added.</p><p>Gatchalian is eyeing the removal of the unprogrammed funds.</p><p>&quot;Hindi natin nakikita ito because wala hong line item. Parang naging pork barrel ho ito ng lump sum, that we need to take a look... Usec Toledo, I think in light of kung anong nangyayari ngayon, ang DBM, pag-isipang mabuti itong unprogrammed funds dahil nagiging pork barrel ito ng DBM eh. Sa totoo lang,&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><p>Toledo agreed.</p><p>&quot;I agree with the proposal of Senator Win Gatchalian. And I understand there was—earlier, you manifested that dapat mawala na po iyong unprogrammed appropriations. And we agree with that because in some sort medyo nagkakagulo po iyong fiscal position natin as far as the unprogrammed appropriations,&quot; Toledo said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/EfHnIrcfO4U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Imee Marcos noted the sharp rise in unprogrammed funds over the years.</p>

What are 'unprogrammed' funds? Gatchalian says they are 'pork barrel'

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What are 'unprogrammed' funds? Gatchalian says they are 'pork barrel'

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 19, 2025 12:25 PM PHT

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Updated September 19, 2025 03:33 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

NEP

unprogrammed

politics

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