President Bongbong Marcos has officially signed the 2026 General Appropriations Act, approving the national budget while vetoing ₱92.5 billion worth of allocations under unprogrammed appropriations.
In a statement, Marcos said the administration would not allow unprogrammed appropriations to be used as a “backdoor” for discretionary spending. He stressed that safeguards were put in place to prevent the misuse of public funds.
The president said unprogrammed funds were reduced to what he described as the “absolute bare minimum,” noting that the level is the lowest since 2019. He added that every project included in the 2026 budget underwent careful review to ensure it would directly benefit the public.
Marcos emphasized that the government remains firm in protecting taxpayers’ money, saying the administration would not allow funds earned by Filipinos to end up in the hands of corrupt individuals.
During his speech, the president also called on the public to take an active role in monitoring the implementation of the national budget. He urged citizens to help ensure that government funds are used properly and according to their intended purpose.
He further warned politicians against exploiting any form of financial assistance, saying that political self-promotion or “epal” practices would be strictly prohibited in the distribution of aid.
The signing of the 2026 budget comes amid lingering criticism over the 2025 national budget, which some critics previously labeled as the “most corrupt” budget in the country’s history. Marcos said the latest spending plan reflects a stronger commitment to transparency and accountability in government spending.
