Budget official defends use of ‘standby’ funds

The Department of Budget and Management (BDM) has clarified that the government’s unprogrammed appropriations (UA) are not a discretionary “pork barrel” or a “magic fund.”

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In a statement, Budget Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the UA funds are a congressionally authorized standby appropriation with a specific purpose, released only when strict conditions are met.

Libiran directly addressed common misconceptions about the UA, noting that the fund is not a secret pot of money the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) can use at will.

Instead, she said it serves as a standby appropriation outlined and authorized by Congress in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

She also noted that the funds can only be accessed against excess or windfall revenues or through approved loans for foreign-assisted projects.

The DBM’s role is to ensure these funds are used responsibly, but it doesn't have unilateral authority to release them, Libiran said. Agencies must also formally request the funds with complete documentation.