Manila: Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Wednesday assured the public that the PHP249 billion in unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed PHP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget are lawful, transparent and strictly regulated, serving only as a fiscal reserve that can be used when government revenues exceed targets.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dy emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are reserve funds of the government and are not part of the proposed budget for next year. He explained that the amount, which is equivalent to around 3.6 percent of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, is well within the 5-percent ceiling set by the Department of Budget and Management.
These funds may only be tapped if there are excess revenues, new taxes, or finalized foreign loan-assisted projects. Dy stated that the House of Representatives has already removed infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and flood control from the unprogrammed list and reallocated the funds to education, health, and social protection.
He assured that the unprogrammed appropriations will not be subject to abuse or misuse, highlighting that the House has imposed multiple layers of safeguards. Dy mentioned that agencies are required to submit a special budget request with supporting documents detailing how the funds will be used before any amount can be released.
The law mandates a quarterly report on how the unprogrammed appropriations are utilized, while Congress will form an oversight committee to monitor fund implementation and ensure proper expenditure. Dy maintained that unprogrammed appropriations are a necessary fiscal tool allowing the government to respond flexibly to unexpected revenue increases or pending foreign-assisted projects.
He added that the funds would be used when revenues exceed targets or for projects from lenders like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, awaiting approval from agencies such as the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, ensuring implementation once requirements are met. Dy reiterated that the House welcomes scrutiny and public participation as part of its ongoing drive for transparency.