House approves P6.79T national budget for 2026 on final reading

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P6.79-trillion national budget for 2026, the largest in the country's history, with 287 lawmakers voting in favor.

The budget includes an education budget equivalent to 4.1% of the gross domestic product, surpassing the international benchmark of 4%.

However, the bill retains P243.2 billion in unprogrammed appropriations (UA), which opposition lawmakers have criticized as a potential "blank check" for the administration.

ML Party List Representative Leila De Lima stated that her stand against unprogrammed appropriations is a constitutional imperative.

Akbayan Party List Representative Chel Diokno added that billions remain hidden in confidential and intelligence funds, and other discretionary infrastructure projects through unprogrammed appropriations.

House appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing clarified that P35 billion in infrastructure projects had already been removed from the unprogrammed appropriations.

Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan warned that these unprogrammed funds, including those for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), give the government untrammeled control over taxpayers' money and allow realignments outside of congressional scrutiny.

The Makabayan bloc opposed the budget bill, labeling it a continuation of the corrupt pork barrel system and citing P695.78 billion in alleged 'pork' allocations.

The Senate has vowed to zero out the unprogrammed funds when the measure reaches their chamber.