The Senate will push for zero unprogrammed funds in the proposed 2026 national budget, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Monday, October 6.

Sotto said this is part of the government’s bid for a transparent budget in light of the controversy in flood control projects. The Senate will also do away with any urgent certifications.

The Senate leader said he and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate finance committee, will ensure this before the budget is passed on its final reading.

“Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and I will ensure that when we discuss the budget on its final reading, there will be no unprogrammed funds,” Sotto said during a press briefing.

“We will put this on programmed allocations, so that it’s clear and transparent. We can avoid the act of budget realignment once the budget is already passed,” he added.

Also upon the directive of President Marcos, the national budget would no longer be certified as urgent as this gives lawmakers the authority to pass the budget bill on second and third reading on the same day.

A certification of urgency allows lawmakers to disregard the three day rule outlined in the Constitution.

“The President himself said that…he no longer likes a shortcut on the three-day rule. So it’s like that. I’m sure it will also be applied in the Senate,” Sotto said.

Sotto said doing away with certification of urgency will allow lawmakers to thorougly read and peruse the whole budget before its passage.

“So it will be good for us, and that is right. It will not be approved on the same day. You have three days to go over and review what you approved on the second reading before you vote in a nominal vote on the third reading,” the Senate chief said.