DBM PRESS STATEMENT
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) respects the right of any individual or official to avail of judicial remedies.
At this time, however, the DBM has not yet received an official copy of the petition reportedly filed before the Supreme Court. Upon receipt, the Department will carefully review the same and, consistent with established procedure, transmit the petition to the Office of the Solicitor General, which is the government’s statutory counsel.
Nonetheless, the DBM maintains its position that the Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act are constitutionally valid. As previously upheld by the Supreme Court, the UA is a standby appropriation that may only be released upon the occurrence of clearly defined fiscal conditions and subject to strict validation and control mechanisms. It is not a lump-sum fund nor a blank check for spending.
It also bears noting that the FY 2026 Unprogrammed Appropriations amount to PHP150.9 billion—the lowest level since 2019—reflecting heightened fiscal discipline and reinforced safeguards in the current budget.
The DBM remains committed to upholding the Constitution, respecting the authority of the courts, and ensuring that the national budget is implemented in a prudent, transparent, and accountable manner.
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FILIPINO VERSION
PRESS STATEMENT
Department of Budget and Management
8 Enero 2026
Tungkol sa isinampang petisyon na kumukuwestiyon sa constitutionality ng FY 2026 Unprogrammed Appropriations sa Supreme Court
Iginagalang ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang karapatan ng kahit sinong indibidwal o opisyal na dumaan sa korte at gumamit ng legal na remedyo.
Sa ngayon, wala pa pong natatanggap na opisyal na kopya ng naturang petisyon ang DBM na sinasabing naisampa sa Supreme Court. Kapag natanggap na ito, maingat naming rerepasuhin ang dokumento at, alinsunod sa tamang proseso, ipapasa ito sa Office of the Solicitor General, na siyang legal counsel ng pamahalaan.
Gayunpaman, naninindigan ang DBM na ang Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) sa ilalim ng FY 2026 General Appropriations Act ay naaayon sa Konstitusyon. Matagal nang kinilala ng Supreme Court na ang UA ay isang standby appropriation—ibig sabihin, maaari lamang itong gamitin kapag may malinaw at tiyak na kundisyong pinansyal na nangyari, at dumadaan ito sa mahigpit na beripikasyon at kontrol. Hindi ito lump-sum fund at hindi rin ito “blank check” na puwedeng gastusin anumang oras.
Mahalaga ring malaman na ang FY 2026 Unprogrammed Appropriations ay nasa P150.9 bilyon—ang pinakamababang antas mula pa noong 2019. Ipinapakita nito ang mas mahigpit na disiplina sa paggastos at mas pinatibay na mga safeguard sa kasalukuyang budget.
Patuloy na nakatuon ang DBM sa pagsunod sa Konstitusyon, paggalang sa kapangyarihan ng mga hukuman, at pagtiyak na ang pambansang budget ay naipapatupad nang maingat, malinaw, at may pananagutan.
[END]
