THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Saturday that the unprogrammed appropriations (UAs) serve as a “safety net” and not as a “politician fund,” ensuring the lawful and transparent release of the budget.
In a radio interview, DBM Acting Secretary Rolly Toledo maintained that there is nothing irregular with the inclusion of the UA in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Toledo said the executive branch, with the consent of Congress, has been granted the authority to fund select programs or projects that are not financed under the programmed appropriations in the 2026 GAA.
“It is clear that unprogrammed appropriations are not bad. What is wrong is when there is abuse and lack of discipline in using it,” he said in Filipino.
“So again, unprogrammed appropriations are not a blank check, not pork barrel, not a political fund. They are a safety net. This is not a shortcut.”
Toledo said there will be no automatic spending of the UA, as these can only be used if there are additional revenues or perfected loans and contracts.
He added that the DBM would still evaluate the requests for the release of UA funds, which must be accompanied by the required documents from a requesting agency.
“Unprogrammed appropriations are not automatically released. They undergo strict DBM scrutiny and legal policy review. They must be backed by clear documents, carrying accountability for every official involved,” Toledo said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slashed the UA in the 2026 GAA to its lowest level since 2019 after vetoing nearly P92.5 billion worth of proposed items.
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, such as the provisions on Quick Response Fund, Engineering and Administrative Overhead Expenses, Payment of Retirement Benefits and Pensions, Capacity Development Programs and Foreign Service Posts.
Funds for these items will only be released once all legal, procedural and fiscal requirements are fully satisfied. PNA