MANILA – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III defended budget amendments introduced by senators, stressing these are part of the legislative mandate and a vital check-and-balance mechanism in government spending.

In a speech addressing recent controversies over alleged ghost projects and irregular flood control allocations, Sotto said it was “unfortunate” that all budget amendments have been cast in a negative light.

“Amendments, insertions or whatever you want to call it, whether individual or institutional, done during the deliberations in the Senate, are part of the regular budget process. It is within the mandate of the Senators to amend and determine the government spending allocation. It serves as a crucial check-and-balance mechanism to ensure that public funds are spent in accordance with the law,” Sotto said.

He noted that many of the amendments included in past budgets were intended for essential services such as classrooms, farm-to-market roads, and bridges, particularly in remote provinces. Some, he said, were tagged “for later release” but were based on requests from local government units whose proposals were not included in regional council priorities.

“These basic services are as equally important and it is within the duty of the Senators, upon assessment, to include these amendments that will benefit the people,” Sotto added.

He also clarified that Senate-proposed projects are implemented by executive agencies and that no funds pass through the Senate.

“Whatever budgetary amendments the Senators proposed, the money for these projects do not in any way go thru the Senate, as some of our kababayans think. It goes directly to the implementing agencies under the Executive Department,” he said.

Sotto assured the public that reforms will be introduced in the 2026 budget process to ensure greater transparency and accountability. Among these, he said, is live streaming all steps of the budget process.

“The Senate is one with the nation in ensuring that the taxes paid by the public will be used correctly,” he said.