Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima expressed apprehension regarding the executive branch’s decision to keep unprogrammed appropriations (UA) within the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), pointing to ongoing constitutional concerns.
During the House Committee on Appropriations’ review of the proposed ₱7.2-trillion budget for 2027, Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon confirmed that ₱111.984 billion has been allocated for UA.
De Lima pressed the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the matter, asking:
“Why does the executive department insist on including unprogrammed appropriations in its annual NEP despite serious constitutional issues involved?”
The lawmaker highlighted that four separate petitions challenging the constitutionality of the discretionary allocation are pending before the Supreme Court. Opponents maintain that the fund lacks a itemized breakdown of expenditures, granting the Chief Executive unchecked spending discretion.
In response, De Leon defended the budget item, describing it as a standby fund for key initiatives that might need financial support.
“The inclusion of the unprogrammed appropriations in the national expenditure program recognizes both the need for the projects to be funded under the unprogrammed appropriations, which by the very nature are still contingent and depending on the triggers as we have proposed in the NEP,” De Leon said.
“While we are cognizant that there are petitions being heard by the Supreme Court, the executive maintains, but upon submission of the UA has limited the proposed uses of the unprogrammed appropriations to only those which are really necessary for 2027,” he added.
Although the requested UA for 2027 reflects a drop compared to earlier budget cycles, De Lima argued that the line item ought to be removed completely because of its legal flaws.
“Just to be very clear, hindi ko po sinasabi na bawasan ito, hindi ko rin po sinasabi na zero ito. Pero ang pinakaposition ko po is that kailangan ko ay tanggalin ng tuluyan. I have really very serious constitutional question about unprogrammed appropriations for most of which is an undue delegation of the Congress’s power of the purse,” De Lima emphasized.
Comparing the situation to past fiscal controversies, De Lima warned that retaining the line item leaves public resources vulnerable to potential misuse.
“Naniniwala tayo: Para maiwasan ang korupsyon at pag-abuso sa paggamit ng pondong ito tulad ng nangyari sa maanomalyang flood control projects, hindi lang dapat bawasan, hindi lang dapat i-zero, kundi dapat tanggalin na ang UA sa Pambansang Budget,” De Lima stated.