Senator seeks to abolish unprogrammed appropriations

A mainstay in the national budget for years, the unprogrammed appropriations may have to be removed in the 2026 budget program to ensure "immediate funding" for projects, Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

"Personally, if you ask me, there should be no more unprogrammed funds. Everything should be programmed so there is immediate funding," Gatchalian said in an interview with the The STAR's "Truth on the Line" program.

He expressed his position against unprogrammed funds amid views that it is through unprogrammed funds that lawmakers can request funds for their pet projects after the enactment of the budget, reminiscent of the now outlawed pork barrel. Unprogrammed funds are portions of the budget that can only be tapped if there is excess revenue collection and approved loans for foreign-assisted projects.

They are basically standby funds for additional spending on pet projects if there are new or excess revenue sources for the government.