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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Unprogrammed appropriations won't fund flood control projects in 2026, Suansing reassures Pinoys

Unprogrammed appropriations won't fund flood control projects in 2026, Suansing reassures Pinoys

Published Oct 20, 2025 02:01 pm

At A Glance

  • House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing reassured the public on Monday, Oct. 20 that unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget won't be used to fund flood control projects.
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing reassured the public on Monday, Oct. 20 that unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget won't be used to fund flood control projects.
This, as Filipinos remained angry and frustrated over the massive corruption scandal involving these types of projects.
"Very important point po: wala na pong pwedeng flood control projects, wala na pong pwedeng mga kalsada, o mga tulay na pwedeng batakin mula sa Strengthen Assistance for Social Programs (SASP)," Suansing said in a press conference.
(A very important point: no flood control projects, roads, or bridges will be funded through the Strengthen Assistance for Social Programs.)
The SASP, which used to be called Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure Program (SAGIP), is one of the 11 purposes of the UA as spelled out in the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
The SASP, which has an allocation of P45 billion, is intended to "support government programs". It is listed as first among the purposes of UA, which is controversial to a handful of House members.
The UA worth P243.2 billion was arguably the top reason why 12 congressmen rejected the third reading passage of the 2026 GAB last Oct. 13. But it was ultimately approved after 287 voted "yes" to it.
"So just to be very, very transparent about it, mayroon din pong breakdown sa loob ng special purpose one (there is also a breakdown within the special purpose one)," Suansing said, referring to SASP.
Suansing attributed the negative views on UA to people's "uncertainties" toward it
She defined UA as basically "stand-by appropriations duly authorized and approved by Congress in the GAA (General Appropriations Act)", but ones that are currently unfunded. The presence of funds will depend on government savings or loan agreements, she said.
Responding to those demonizing UA, the appropriations panel chairperson denied that these were lump sums, or allocations in the budget measure.
"Iniisip po kasi ng ilan na lump sum funds yung [UA]. Hindi po totoo ito sapagkat mayroon pong naka line item na mga programa at mga purpose sa ilalim po ng [UA] (Some people think that UA are lump sum funds. This is not true because the UA has listed purposes and line item programs)," Suansing said.
The Nueva Ecija solon further said that the UA in the 2026 GAB was P120.2 billion less than the UA level in the 2025 GAA, or the current enacted budhet.
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