Nearly 300,000 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers in government will be affected by President Marcos' veto of a specific item listed under unprogrammed appropriations (UA) of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2026.

Thus, said House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, who found no rhyme or reason with the Chief Executive's move.

"I strongly condemn the veto by Pres. Marcos Jr. of P43.245 billion intended 'For Payment of Personnel Services Requirements' under the [UA]," Tinio said in a statement Monday, Jan. 5 just hours after Marcos signed the fresh outlay for 2026 in Malacañang.

"This appropriation, meant to pay for hiring of new personnel and payment of retirement benefits of civilian and uniformed personnel, was originally included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by Malacañang itself, maintained as such in the House General Appropriations Bill (GAB), but bumped off to Unprogramed Appropriations by the Bicameral Conference Committee to make room for insertions, has now been completely cut from the GAA with the President’s veto," he noted.

The Makabayan solon said that of the P43.235-billion veto, P10.772 billion has been cut from hiring of new personnel.

"This affects the over 259,000 [JO] and [COS] workers in national government, including over 41,000 professors, instructors, and administrative staff in State Universities and Colleges (SUC) who work on contracts and are deprived of regular employment status, pay, and benefits," Tinio noted.

"Kinokondena natin ito at nananawagan sa mga guro at kawani na tuloy nating ipaglaban ang sapat na pondo para sa trabaho, suweldo, at benepisyo! (We condemm this and we call on teachers and government workers to fight for ample funds for employment, salaries, and benefits!)" said the militant lawmaker.

Tinio couldn't hide his bewilderment with what Marcos did.

"His veto message makes no explanation or justification whatsoever for this specific veto, despite the fact that funding for these personnel expenses was originally proposed by the President himself," he said.

"Neither has the President made any committment that additional or supplemental appropriations to cover this deficiency will be forthcoming," he added.

Under the annual budget process, the NEP is submitted to Congress and becomes the basis of the GAB or the legislated budget.

Tinio further explained that the veto "means they cannot be hired as regular government employees and will have to endure yet another year as underpaid yet overworked contract workers".

Meanwhile, the remaining P32.472 billion vetoed by the President was meant for the terminal leave benefits of retiring personnel in the civilian and uniformed bureaucracy, including police and military.

"This can only mean that personnel benefits will be delayed or denied, with the perennial excuse of 'lack of available funds'," rued Tinio.