Two of the country’s largest business groups—the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)—welcomed the signing of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but raised concerns over certain provisions, particularly the unprogrammed allocations (UAs).

“However, we believe the President should have taken a more aggressive action on constitutionally questionable Unprogrammed Allocations, because we believe they could be subject to discretionary disbursement, or patronage. Many of these are social welfare programs, falling under the heading of ‘ayuda’, which we classify as ‘soft pork,’” the MBC said in a statement on Tuesday.

The MBC noted that while the President has assured the public that politicians will not be allowed to intervene in the allocation of ‘ayuda’ funds, it is seeking more than verbal assurances. The group called for the issuance of an executive order establishing rights-based and rules-based mechanisms to govern the disbursement of ‘ayuda’ funds, as well as stricter limits on confidential and intelligence funds strictly for legitimate security uses.

After Marcos vetoed P92.5 billion worth of unprogrammed appropriations, the MBC said the move showed the President’s responsiveness to feedback from the private sector.

The business group also called for greater transparency, saying the government’s “Sumbong Sa Pangulo” platform provided only a partial picture of alleged plunder in flood control projects.

“Hundreds of billions of pesos worth of these projects were not on the platform. The public needs access to the full PhilGEPS (government procurement system) data set for complete scrutiny. The 2026 General Appropriations Act is an improved budget compared to those of the previous years, both in terms of allocation focus and in the improved process transparency. Information and transparency are necessary in the fight against corruption. But the real antidote will come from a truly engaged citizenry,” the MBC said.

2026 GAA must benefit all Filipinos

In a separate statement, Ferdinand Ferrer, president of the PCCI, also welcomed the passage of the 2026 GAA and expressed hope that public funds would be spent prudently.

“We welcome the passage of the 2026 GAA, and we hope that the taxpayers’ money will be judiciously spent and utilized in ways that benefit all Filipinos. It should drive inclusive growth and economic progress across the country,” Ferrer said.

To further strengthen budget transparency, Ferrer voiced support for the proposed CADENA Act (Citizens’ Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability), which seeks to make every peso of public spending fully transparent, traceable, and accountable.

“It is not enough to know what projects are created and funded, but rather the detailed cost of the project should be transparent to ensure efficient use of taxpayers’ money. There have to be proper checks and balances in every project spending,” he added.

Ferrer also welcomed the President’s decision to veto around P92.5 billion in unprogrammed funds, describing it as a decisive step toward fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency.

The PCCI chief identified five priority areas where the national budget could be programmed to support inclusive growth and long-term development. These include strengthening hard and soft infrastructure; investing in education and workforce skills; boosting trade competitiveness and resilient supply chains; reinforcing economic resilience and inflation management; and safeguarding food, water, and energy security.

“Implemented with integrity and in close consultation with the private sector, the 2026 GAA can be a transformative tool for enhancing Philippine competitiveness. We look forward to deepening our collaboration to ensure public spending effectively empowers MSMEs, creates quality jobs, and catalyzes long-term, inclusive growth,” Ferrer added.