Lacson Welcomes Veto of Non-Essential Allocations, Prohibition on Political Involvement in ‘Ayuda’ in 2026 Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson welcomed on Monday President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s veto of non-essential funds under the unprogrammed appropriations – as well as the prohibition of political involvement in the distribution of “ayuda” – in the newly signed Republic Act 12314, the national budget for 2026.

Lacson noted two of the items that survived the veto – the government support to foreign-assisted projects and the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program – are needed for economic development and national security.

During deliberations on the then budget bill last December, Lacson pushed for the trimming of the unprogrammed allocations to include only funds for legitimate items such as foreign-assisted projects and the AFP modernization program.

“P150.905 billion is the exact amount that survived the veto, of which, P97.3 billion for Government Support to Foreign-Assisted Projects, P3.6 billion for Program on Risk Management, and P50 billion for the revised AFP Modernization Program. All other seven items under UA were vetoed,” Lacson said.

“We need the government support to Foreign Assisted Projects and the Revised AFP Modernization Program as our commitments to our economic development and national security,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Ikinatuwa ang Pag-Veto sa Di-Mahahalagang Alokasyon at Pagbawal sa Pag-Epal sa ‘Ayuda’ sa 2026 Budget

He also pointed out that the inclusion of P35.769 billion for “Government of the Philippines counterpart of Foreign-Assisted Projects” in the list of vetoed items is fine with him because it “could be a duplication” of the support to FAP.

Lacson also welcomed the President’s message that the government will strictly implement the prohibition on political involvement in the distribution of cash and other forms of financial assistance.

“We welcome the provision on the Prohibition on Political Involvement in the Distribution of Cash and Other Forms of Financial Assistance as it will ensure that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries fairly, transparently, and solely on the basis of need. The Senate bicam panel stood firm on this after I pushed hard on it as part of my numerous amendments against political patronage in dispensing health and social assistance to the truly deserving Filipinos,” he said.

Because of these, Lacson said he is “happy and satisfied” with the outcome.

On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 12314, the 2026 budget law. He vetoed some P92.5 billion or 38 percent of the P243.4 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said only three major items remained in the unprogrammed fund totaling P150.905 billion, which he said is equal to the levels in 2019.

Also, Lacson pointed out that the unprogrammed appropriations are non-cash items that may only be used following the Special Provisions:

* if there is an excess in the government’s non tax revenue collection;
* if there is an accompanying revenue measure; and
* there is an approved loan.

“Further, only the President is authorized to approve to use the Unprogrammed Appropriations to augment items under the Programmed Appropriations a.k.a. Regular Budget,” he added.

Lacson noted that in the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the Unprogrammed Appropriations became controversial after the bicameral conference committee at the time added two additional and “highly questionable, even unconstitutional Special Provisions.”

These included the government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) which allowed the executive branch to transfer the funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury and eventually used for several infrastructure projects; and Foreign Assisted Projects, “which could have been disastrous, if disbursed for purposes other than what it was intended.”

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Lacson, Ikinatuwa ang Pag-Veto sa Di-Mahahalagang Alokasyon at Pagbawal sa Pag-Epal sa ‘Ayuda’ sa 2026 Budget

Ikinatuwa ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes ang pag-veto ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa mga pondong hindi mahalaga sa ilalim ng Unprogrammed Appropriations — gayundin ang pagbabawal sa pag-epal ng mga pulitiko sa pamamahagi ng “ayuda” — sa bagong pirmadong Republic Act 12314, ang pambansang badyet para sa 2026.

Binanggit ni Lacson na ang dalawang item na hindi na-veto — ang government support sa foreign-assisted projects, at ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program — ay kailangan para sa kaunlarang pang-ekonomiya at pambansang seguridad.

Sa deliberasyon sa panukalang badyet noong Disyembre, iginiit ni Lacson ang pagbawas sa unprogrammed allocations upang isama lamang ang pondo para sa mga lehitimong item tulad ng foreign-assisted projects at AFP modernization program.

“P150.905 billion is the exact amount that survived the veto, of which, P97.3 billion for Government Support to Foreign-Assisted Projects, P3.6 billion for Program on Risk Management, and P50 billion for the revised AFP Modernization Program. All other seven items under UA were vetoed,” ani Lacson.

“We need the government support to Foreign Assisted Projects and the Revised AFP Modernization Program as our commitments to our economic development and national security,” dagdag niya.

Katanggap-tanggap din para kay Lacson ang pagsama sa ₱35.769 bilyon para sa “Government of the Philippines counterpart of Foreign-Assisted Projects” sa listahan ng mga na-veto dahil maaring maging duplication ito ng suportang ibinibigay sa FAP.

Ikinatuwa rin ni Lacson ang mensahe ng Pangulo na mahigpit na ipatutupad ng pamahalaan ang pagbabawal sa politikal na pag-epal sa pamamahagi ng cash at iba pang anyo ng tulong pinansyal.

“We welcome the provision on the Prohibition on Political Involvement in the Distribution of Cash and Other Forms of Financial Assistance as it will ensure that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries fairly, transparently, and solely on the basis of need. The Senate bicam panel stood firm on this after I pushed hard on it as part of my numerous amendments against political patronage in dispensing health and social assistance to the truly deserving Filipinos,” ani Lacson.

Dahil dito, sinabi ni Lacson na siya ay “happy and satisfied” sa naging kinalabasan.

Nitong Lunes, nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bilang batas ang Republic Act 12314, ang 2026 budget law. Na-veto niya ang humigit-kumulang ₱92.5 bilyon o 38 porsiyento ng ₱243.4 bilyon sa unprogrammed appropriations.

Sinabi ni Executive Secretary Ralph Recto na ang tatlong pangunahing item lamang na nanatili sa unprogrammed fund na may kabuuang ₱150.905 bilyon, na aniya’y katumbas ng unprogrammed fund noong 2019.

Ipinaliwanag din ni Lacson na ang unprogrammed appropriations ay mga non-cash na item na maaari lamang gamitin alinsunod sa Special Provisions:

* kung may labis sa koleksiyon ng non-tax revenues ng pamahalaan;
* kung may kasamang revenue measure; at
* kung may aprubadong loan.

“Further, only the President is authorized to approve to use the Unprogrammed Appropriations to augment items under the Programmed Appropriations a.k.a. Regular Budget,” dagdag niya.

Binanggit din ni Lacson na sa 2024 General Appropriations Act, naging kontrobersiyal ang Unprogrammed Appropriations matapos magdagdag ang bicameral conference committee noon ng dalawang karagdagang at “highly questionable, even unconstitutional Special Provisions.”

Kabilang dito ang mga government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) na nagbigay-daan sa ehekutibo na ilipat ang pondo ng Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) sa national treasury at kalaunan ay ginamit para sa ilang proyektong pang-imprastraktura; at ang Foreign Assisted Projects, “which could have been disastrous, if disbursed for purposes other than what it was intended.”

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