DBM allocates P249.98B for unprogrammed funds in 2026 budget

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P249.98 billion for unprogrammed allocations in the proposed 2026 budget.

This amount is lower than what Congress approved in 2025 but higher than the DBM's original 2025 NEP proposal.

Unprogrammed funds are items without dedicated funding and can only proceed once excess revenue is generated.

Critics have raised concerns over the significant growth of unprogrammed allocations, especially during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term.

In 2023, the DBM requested P588.16 billion in unprogrammed funds, which Congress increased to P807.16 billion.

The process of approving these funds has been criticized for a lack of transparency, particularly during closed-door sessions involving select lawmakers.