Diokno urges Congress to pass P6.793-trillion 2026 budget without insertions

Monetary Board Member (MBM) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and former Budget chief Benjamin E. Diokno urged Congress to pass the proposed ₱ 6.793-trillion 2026 national budget without "insertions," or funds that are not part of the administration's priority programs and projects.

- BY RICARDO M. AUSTRIA, ELLSON QUISMORIO, DERCO ROSAL, BETHEENA UNITE, and JOSEPH PEDRAJAS

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel on Wednesday, Oct. 1, Diokno said "this new Congress must demonstrate that it is different from the previous one."

It was the preceding 19th Congress that passed the ₱6.326-trillion 2025 budget, which critics had assailed as the national government's "most corrupt" annual spending plan in history.

Diokno described the national budget as the most consequential piece of legislation expected from Congress, stressing that its timely approval is crucial.

He highlighted that over the last three years, the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) budget has been steadily reduced, with a 51.4-percent cut in 2025-from P180.9 billion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to P88 billion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

According to Diokno, the DOTr budget is essential for long-term infrastructure projects, including the Metro Manila subway system.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in contrast, was the "biggest gainer" in the 2025 GAA, receiving a 21-percent increase.

The DPWH is now in the middle of a corruption scandal involving "ghost" and ineffective flood control despite billions of pesos spent on such projects these past few years.

Diokno also noted that unprogrammed appropriations (UA) have grown significantly over the last three years, rising from the proposed 2025 NEP of P158.7 million to P363.4 million-a 129-percent increase under the 2025 GAA signed by President Marcos.

UAS are "the parade ground of corruption," he warned, referring to locally funded projects included under this category.

Since UAS are not covered by regular budget financing, they can only be funded by excess or new tax and non-tax revenues, as well as foreign loans for specific projects and programs.

In the 2026 budget proposal, UAS dropped to P249.9 billion from P363.4 billion this year and P531.4 billion last year.