Posturing of reforms in government spending remains a farce if unprogrammed funds remain part of the proposed 2026 national budget, progressive lawmakers warned.
The Makabayan bloc condemned the House of Representatives’ (HOR) rejection of the motion to entirely scrap unprogrammed funds in next year’s budget, saying lawmakers allied to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are out to maintain and protect corruption in government.
Progressive partylists ACT Teachers, Kabataan Youth and Gabriela Women’s voted to the motion by Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno last Friday to scrap the controversial lump-sum appropriation that the Marcos-allied supermajority rejected.
After the rejection, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio proposed amendments to prevent abuse in government spending, but were similarly dismissed.
“The majority’s rejection of these basic accountability measures is a clear signal that they want to keep the Unprogrammed Appropriations as a slush fund for corruption,” Tinio said.
“Ang tanong: ano ang tinatago nila? Bakit ayaw nilang ibalik ang mga safeguards laban sa pang-aabuso?” he asked.
Tinio’s proposed amendments were:
- Restore the original provision requiring Presidential approval for the release of unprogrammed appropriations and make him accountable for future abuses, such as in flood control project corruption scandals; and
- Remove the excessive power granted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to realign and modify the budget allocated for purposes under unprogrammed appropriations at will.
“By removing Presidential approval, they’re creating plausible deniability for corruption. By giving DBM unlimited realignment powers, they’re essentially handing over a blank check,” he explained.
“Ito ay reseta para sa korapsyon at pang-aabuso ng pondo ng bayan,” he added.
The proposed P6.793 trillion 2026 national budget is on its second reading at the HOR but P249 billion in unprogrammed appropriations remain firmly lodged in the measure.
This, even after P35 billion worth of funding for Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure Program was scrapped and the Office of the Vice President’s proposed budget of P889.24 million was reduced to its 2025 amount of P733.2 million, a reduction of P156 million or 17.5 percent.
In the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian plan to contest the inclusion of unprogrammed funds in the proposed budget should they be assigned as representatives to the bicameral budget conferences.
Unprogrammed appropriations were found to have been used in questionable flood control projects by several lawmakers, corrupt public workers officials and colluding private contractors.
Stealing from the people
Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co emphasized the impact of unprogrammed funds on ordinary Filipinos: “While our people struggle with rising prices and inadequate social services, the majority protects a system that allows billions in public funds to be moved around without proper oversight. Sino ang mapaglilingkuran ng budget na ito—ang mamamayan o ang mga corrupt na opisyal?”
“The majority’s actions today reveal their true priorities: protecting their political and economic interests over the welfare of the Filipino people,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago.
“Ang budget ay dapat para sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at serbisyong panlipunan—hindi para sa bulsa ng mga corrupt na pulitiko,” she added.
The Makabayan lawmakers called on the public to take note of how their representatives would vote on the proposed national bu
“The rejection of basic accountability measures is not just a legislative defeat — it is a betrayal of public trust and a green light for continued corruption,” the progressive representatives said.
“We will continue to expose and oppose all attempts to use public funds for corruption and self-enrichment. Ang pera ng bayan ay para sa bayan, hindi para sa mga magnanakaw,” they added. # (Raymund B.Villanueva)
