Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the proposed 2026 national budget are constitutional and meant to serve only as standby funds, subject to strict fiscal conditions before release.
In a Zoom interview with Senate media, Sotto clarified that unprogrammed funds are not immediately spendable and can only be accessed once specific requirements are met.
“Standby appropriation kasi ’yan na puwede lang ilabas kapag may malinaw na financial o fiscal conditions at dumaan sa mahigpit na validation,” he said.
Sotto said safeguards were tightened following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s veto of most proposed UA items, leaving only a limited number to address past concerns over potential misuse that had affected public trust.
“As much as possible sa 2026 budget, iniiwasan namin ang posibilidad ng katiwalian,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold the 2026 national budget if it faces legal challenges, citing existing jurisprudence on unprogrammed appropriations.
“Kumpiyansa ako na papanigan ng Korte Suprema ang budget,” Sotto said.
The Senate President added that while Congress removed possible sources of abuse during budget deliberations, vigilance remains crucial during implementation, as execution of the budget largely falls under the executive branch.