The House of Representatives rejected the proposal amendment of Akbayan Representative, Atty. Chel Diokno to fully remove the unprogrammed funds on the proposed 2026 national budget.

Atty. Diokno sought that the more than P243 billion unprogrammed budget in the proposed budget will be reduced to zero, highlighting that it should be inserted in various government agencies instead.

“If these items are truly part of the budget priorities then they should be included in the programmed appropriations of their respective department’s budgets,” Diokno said.

Nueva Ecija Representative and chairperson on committee on appropriations, Mikaela Suansing said that Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) infrastructure projects is no longer part of the authorized uses of unprogrammed appropriations, leaving only the social programs of it.

This reduces the P80 billion under SAGIP unprogrammed appropriations to P45 billion in total.

“All of those relate to programs under the Department of Agriculture (DA) for subsidies to farmers, rice subsidies; DSWD as an augmentation to 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program) given that their is an unexpected short fall in the funding of 4Ps given the reduction from last year,” Suansing stated.

However, Suansing noted that they can’t fully grant the amendments that Diokno wishes, infrastructures under Foreign Assisted Projects (FAP) because it did not make it to the preparation for the budget deliberation.

"We cannot afford not to fund this because this is our commitment with our multilateral and bilateral partners,” Suansing explained.

Suansing further named other programs that stayed in unprogrammed items including:Budgetary support to GOCCs, Risk management, Right to develop Nampedai Property in Japan, Providing the prior years of LGU shares, Revised AFP modernization program, Fiscal support for comprehensive automotive resurgence strategy program, Marawi Siege Victims compensation program,insurance protection of important government assets and interest, and payment of personnel services requirements.

“Even though we are unable to accommodate the proposed amendments of the Honorable Diokno, we can assure that in the latest second reading version of the General Appropriations Bill, we have already put in place safeguards to prevent potential abuses of disbursements towards infrastructure projects from unprogrammed appropriations,” Suansing said.

Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal representative Leila de Lima amendment that the 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President from its original proposed budget of P889.2 million to be reduced P733.2 million has been accepted.

De Lima cited Vice President Sara Duterte's refusal to defend the proposed appropriation to the congress as a spit on the duty of accountability.

“Public money is not a toy. Until the Vice President learns respect, we must act like a parent that disciplines a brat’” De Lima said in her amendments speech.

“I know this move will generate varied reactions. It might even be exploite by certain camps to Felicity sympathy for Vice President Sara. That's where they good at, theatricts. But we can’t let theatrics prevail to what is right and just,” she added.

Suansing accepted the proposed ammendments of De Lima and noted that they will ensure that it will not affect the capability to operate of the Vice President’s office.

“We will ensure that it will not affect the Office of the Vice President's performance of its duties regarding its budget for fiscal year 2026.,” Suansing said.

The House of Representatives on their second reading on Friday has approved the P6.793 trillion proposed budget for 2026