The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Saturday that unprogrammed appropriations serve as a “safety net” and not a political fund, ensuring the lawful and transparent release of the budget.
In a radio interview, DBM Acting Secretary Rolly Toledo said there is nothing irregular about the inclusion of unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
He said the executive branch, with congressional consent, is authorized to fund select programs or projects not covered under programmed appropriations in the 2026 budget.
Toledo stressed that unprogrammed appropriations are not inherently wrong, noting that misuse marked by abuse and lack of discipline is the real concern.
He emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are not a blank check, pork barrel, or political fund, but a safety net and not a shortcut.
Toledo said there will be no automatic spending of unprogrammed funds, as these can only be tapped if there are additional revenues or perfected loans and contracts.
He added that the DBM will strictly evaluate all requests for fund releases, which must be supported by complete documentation and undergo legal and policy review.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier slashed unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget to their lowest level since 2019 after vetoing nearly P92.5 billion worth of proposed items.
Mr. Marcos said the veto was a measured exercise of executive authority to rebuild public trust in the budget process.
He also placed several special provisions under conditional implementation, including those covering the Quick Response Fund, engineering and administrative overhead expenses, retirement benefits and pensions, capacity development programs, and foreign service posts.
Funds for these items will be released only after all legal, procedural, and fiscal requirements are fully met.
