Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are pushing for the removal of unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed 2026 national budget, citing ongoing controversies surrounding infrastructure spending, particularly flood control projects, as reported by RH Milky Rigonan.

Representative Perci Cendaña of Akbayan Party-list emphasized during plenary deliberations that unprogrammed appropriations—funds allocated without specific project plans—have repeatedly been used to finance large-scale infrastructure projects.

Specifically, foreign-assisted projects are projected to receive PHP97.3 billion, while the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) is allocated PHP80.9 billion.

According to Cendaña, nearly 70 percent of next year’s unprogrammed appropriations are earmarked for infrastructure that could have been programmed under regular budget lines, raising concerns about transparency, oversight, and potential misuse.

The call comes in the wake of recent controversies over alleged irregularities in flood control infrastructure projects, which have drawn public scrutiny and calls for accountability.

Critics argue that unprogrammed appropriations can bypass standard legislative review and reduce transparency, making them susceptible to misuse.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Mikaela Suansing expressed openness to removing the SAGIP allocation but said that any decision on the full elimination of unprogrammed appropriations would require careful study.

Cendaña and other reform-minded lawmakers are expected to continue pushing for stricter guidelines and transparency measures to ensure that government funds are allocated efficiently and in line with public needs.