Malacañang has asserted that the 2026 national budget is legally sound and expressed confidence that it will withstand scrutiny. Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos and his administration are confident that the national budget, which was...
The Supreme Court can declare the contentious Unprogrammed Appropriations as unconstitutional, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Tuesday, January 6. Gatchalian made the remark following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to veto P92.5-billion unprogrammed items when he signed...
Stressing that unprogrammed appropriations (UA) are not 'blank checks, ' President Marcos has vetoed almost P92.5 billion in the 2026 national budget which he signed on Monday, Jan. 5. "[T]o ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interest, I vetoed several...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said a corruption loophole that was lodged under the Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) has been removed in the proposed 2026 national budget. Gatchalian said this was approved by the bicameral conference committee when they reconciled the disagreeing provisions of the...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson defended the necessity of Unprogrammed Appropriations under the Special Purpose Fund in the national budget saying these are constitutional and even necessary. But Lacson said use of the Unprogrammed Appropriations however, should strictly...
Malacañang gave an assurance that the unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed 2026 national budget will not end up as "pork barrel." Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that although P250 billion falls under the unprogrammed appropriations, it will be...
Malacañang has defended the inclusion of P250 billion in unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed 2026 national budget, saying the funds serve as a vital contingency reserve for emergencies and unforeseen needs, with President Marcos himself ensuring they are properly managed. Communications...
The Department of Budget and Management (BDM) has clarified that the government’s unprogrammed appropriations (UA) are not a discretionary “pork barrel” or a “magic fund.”
In a statement, Budget Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the UA funds are a congressionally authorized...
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN) House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is looking into reports that the district of Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte was...
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook) Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has insisted that unprogrammed funds are legal amid Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman’s petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the controversial budget...
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (left), Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman (Screenshots from Zoom) Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has fired back at Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman for questioning before the Supreme Court (SC) the additional...
Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN) Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr.'s "signing" of the petition that sought to junk the additional P449.5-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2024...
