The House of Representatives on Monday approved the proposed ₱6.3-trillion national budget for 2026 on third and final reading, retaining over ₱200 billion in unprogrammed appropriations (UA) despite opposition from several lawmakers.
A total of 287 members voted in favor, 12 opposed, and two abstained.
Several lawmakers who voted “no” expressed concern over the continued inclusion of unprogrammed funds, citing past misuse.
“Nagiging kumbinyenteng parkingan ang unprogrammed appropriations ng mga dapat naman ay programado’t obligado nang mga gastusin… My stand against unprogrammed appropriations is a constitutional imperative. ‘Wag lang zero, kundi no, no. U-A, go away!” said ML Party List Representative Leila De Lima.
Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno echoed the concern, saying that the UA allows spending without clarity. “Sa 2026 budget, tuloy pa rin ang ligaya dahil meron pa ring Unprogrammed Appropriations… basta na lang ipinauubaya sa Executive Department kahit hindi malinaw kung paano ito gagamitin at kung saan ito mapupunta,” he said.
Gabriela Party List Representative Sarah Elago was more scathing, calling the measure a “pork feast for the powerful and scraps for the people,” adding, “No matter how you plate it, it still stinks of corruption.”
House Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing defended the inclusion of the UA, clarifying that flood control, bridges, and road projects were already excluded to prevent potential abuse. “Sisiguraduhin po natin na hindi maaabuso ang Unprogrammed Appropriations,” she said.
Sagip Party List Representative Paolo Marcoleta criticized the reduction of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget to ₱733.2 million, the same as this year’s allocation. “This disregards the real and tangible work done on the ground… public service should be funded based on impact, not politics,” he said.
De Lima countered that the cut was justified, saying the Vice President had repeatedly “disrespected” Congress by refusing to defend her agency’s budget before the plenary.
Meanwhile, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to lower its project costs following recent flood control hearings.
Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III acknowledged the budget’s imperfections but praised its transparency. “Isang budget na ginawa sa liwanag, hindi sa dilim… walang ibang layunin kundi tiyakin na ang bawat piso ng buwis ng ating mga mamamayan ay bumabalik sa kanila sa anyo ng oportunidad, serbisyo, at pag-asa,” he said.
The House also approved fund realignments from the DPWH’s slashed ₱255 billion flood control allocation—₱56.6 billion to education, ₱90.7 billion to health, and ₱53.7 billion to agriculture. According to Suansing, the education sector’s total budget now stands at ₱1.28 trillion, the highest in Philippine history.
Calls were also made to open the bicameral conference committee discussions to the public. House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos assured that the chamber would act on the pending resolution once time allows.
