Akbayan Partylist Representative Percival “Percy” Cendaña has raised alarm over the inclusion of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the proposed 2026 national budget, calling the mechanism “prone to abuse and corruption.”
In a Sunday interview, Cendaña urged the removal of unprogrammed funds, comparing them to “a son asking money from his parents without explanation.” He said the power of the purse, which should rest with Congress, has been transferred to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) because of this budgetary setup.
The lawmaker also questioned why Foreign-Assisted Projects (FAPs) remain under unprogrammed appropriations despite being tied to foreign loans with clear timelines.
“It’s not guaranteed to be implemented within the year since unprogrammed funds rely on excess revenues,” Cendaña said. He warned that delays in implementation lead to additional commitment fees for idle projects.
He revealed that ₱238 billion in unprogrammed funds is set for approval, warning that such a large allocation will be “prone to abuse and corruption.”
Cendaña also turned his criticism toward the Department of Health (DOH), citing alleged corruption and mismanagement that he described as “haunted hospitals” endangering the public health system.
“We are not the ones who named it—it’s the secretary of DOH,” he clarified, referencing the department’s acknowledgment of problematic facilities. “This kind of ‘haunting’ is sad. It’s not just ghosts that scare us, we’re frightened because there’s no certainty that when you go to a government hospital or health center, you’ll actually get the services you need,” he added.
The Akbayan representative likened the corruption spreading from flood control projects to health programs as a kind of “kleptospirosis.”
He emphasized the need for the DOH to cooperate with the ongoing investigations, saying the matter must be resolved before the new year to identify the “syndicate” stealing from the Filipino people.
Cendaña also responded to the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) claim that its budget cut amounted to “bullying disguised as governance.”
“The bully in this situation is the one who feels special, superior, and insists on always getting their way,” he said. “A real bully is someone who says, ‘I won’t go there unless my conditions are met,’ acting as if they’re a child of God who deserves special treatment.”
Cendaña said the public’s frustration over budget controversies shows growing discontent and stressed the need for proper, transparent budgeting as a measure of true governance.