Unprogrammed funds slashed to P245 B under NEP

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has proposed a more than 30-percent reduction in unprogrammed appropriations to P245 billion under next year's record budget as the government moves to address the deficit.

- By LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Based on the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) obtained by The STAR, unprogrammed funds are proposed at P244.89 billion, 32.62 percent lower than the P363.42 billion under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

The amount is just 3.6 percent of the proposed total expenditures for 2025 at P6.793 trillion, lower than the 5.7 percent share in this year's budget.

Unprogrammed appropriations provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.

Releasing funds from this would need certification from the Bureau of the Treasury.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the executive department continues to place a limit of just five percent to unprogrammed appropriations from the previous highs of almost 10 percent.