MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has defended the inclusion of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2026 national budget, maintaining that it complies with the Constitution despite a petition seeking to nullify the provision.

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar R. Erice, along with Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima, filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the validity of the UA in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The minority lawmakers argued that the UA effectively gives the government authority to allocate funds for projects without an identifiable source of financing.

In a statement issued Thursday, January 8, the DBM said it respects the right of lawmakers to seek judicial remedies but insisted that the UA provisions in the 2026 budget are legal.

“The DBM maintains its position that the UAs under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act are constitutionally valid. As previously upheld by the Supreme Court, the UA is a standby appropriation that may only be released upon the occurrence of clearly defined fiscal conditions and [is] subject to strict validation and control mechanisms. It is not a lump-sum fund nor a blank check for spending,” the DBM said.

The UA allocation for 2026 stands at ₱150.9 billion, the lowest level recorded since the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the Marcos administration, however, unprogrammed appropriations rose significantly, reaching ₱807.16 billion in 2023.

Unprogrammed appropriations serve as standby allocations that may only be accessed once the government exceeds its revenue targets. While not technically part of the total budget ceiling, they reflect the government’s spending priorities once excess revenues are generated.

In the 2026 GAA, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vetoed ₱92.5 billion worth of unprogrammed appropriation items.