The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday defended the nature of unprogrammed appropriations and explained how it could be tapped as fiscal buffers in times of calamities.
“Unprogrammed appropriations (UAs) are not discretionary or secret funds, but standby allocations duly authorized and approved by Congress. These funds can only be accessed when there are excess or windfall revenues, new revenue measures, or valid loan agreements for foreign-assisted projects,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
The statement comes after some lawmakers are moved for its removal in the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
The Budget chief stressed that unprogrammed funds matter most for rapid disaster response, serving as the government’s financial lifeline in times of devastating calamities.
“UAs usually serve as fiscal buffers, enabling the government to resp
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