DBM PRESS STATEMENT
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) takes note of recent statements made by some lawmakers alleging delays in the release of funding for public works projects.
While the DBM respects the oversight role of Congress, it is important to clarify several factual and legal points to ensure that the public is properly informed on how the national budget is implemented.
First, the DBM does not arbitrarily delay the release of funds, nor does it create policies outside the law. All budget releases are governed strictly by the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA)—a law passed by Congress itself and approved by the President.
For several locally funded infrastructure (LFI) projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Congress introduced amendments—including adjustments in project descriptions, station limits, and geographic coordinates—which resulted in modifications to projects originally proposed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Executive.
As provided in the President’s Veto Message for the FY 2026 GAA, such Congress Introduced Changes and Adjustments (CICA) require additional validation and clearance prior to the release of funds.
Article VI of the President’s Veto Message provides that: “…the increases in appropriations and new budgetary items introduced by the Congress in this Budget shall be subject to the national government’s cash programming, observance of prudent fiscal management, applicable budget execution rules and procedures… based on the programmed priorities of the government…. Considering that such increases in appropriations and new budgetary items will have corresponding effects on the outputs and outcomes of the agencies concerned, the DBM shall… require the submission of their revised performance targets.”
Since the projects in question were modified during the legislative process, they were not covered under the GAA as the Allotment Order (GAAAO), which allows the comprehensive release of allotments at the start of the fiscal year. Instead, they appropriations for the same were placed under For Issuance of SARO (FISARO) subject to established budget execution safeguards.
Under this arrangement, the implementing agency must first submit a formal request to DBM for the release of funds, supported by the required documentation and project prioritization. Only after these conditions are satisfied may the DBM issue a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO).
With respect to the projects cited, the initial request submitted by DPWH for FISARO covering certain LFI projects was subsequently withdrawn by the implementing agency to allow for the completion and consolidation of the necessary supporting documentation. DPWH has indicated that the complete documentary requirements will be submitted at the soonest possible time to enable DBM to process the request and facilitate the lawful release of funds.
Second, it is inaccurate to claim that DBM requires projects to be bid out first before deciding whether funds will be released. What the DBM advises agencies is to undertake early procurement activities short of award for programs, activities, and projects included in the NEP. This allows implementing agencies to prepare procurement processes in advance and accelerate project implementation, bit is undertaken short of award because the NEP remains subject to the legislative process, during which project parameters may still be adjusted.
Third, allow us to emphasize that the DBM cannot release funds for a project that has not been requested by the implementing agency. Budget releases are triggered by official requests from implementing agencies, not by unilateral action on the part of DBM.
The DBM does not delay projects. It only ensures that public funds are released lawfully and in accordance with the budget approved by Congress and signed by the President.
Ultimately, the DBM’s mandate is not political but institutional. The Department’s responsibility is to protect the integrity of the national budget, safeguard taxpayer funds, and ensure that government programs are implemented strictly within the parameters authorized by law.
The DBM remains committed to working with Congress and implementing agencies to ensure the timely, lawful, and responsible implementation of infrastructure programs for the benefit of the Filipino people.
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FILIPINO VERSION
17 March 2026
DBM PRESS STATEMENT
PAGLILINAW SA MGA MALI AT NAKALILITONG PARATANG TUNGKOL SA PAGLABAS NG PONDO PARA SA PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS
Binibigyang pansin ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang pahayag ng ilang mambabatas na nagsasabing may pagkaantala umano sa paglabas ng pondo para sa mga public works projects.
Iginagalang ng DBM ang oversight role ng Congress, ngunit mahalagang linawin ang ilang factual at legal na punto upang masigurong tama ang pagkaunawa ng publiko sa kung paano ipinapatupad ang national budget.
Una, hindi nagpapaliban ang DBM sa paglabas ng pondo, at hindi rin ito nag-iimbento o gumagawa ng mga bagong patakaran na wala sa batas. Lahat ng budget releases ay sumusunod sa 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA)—isang batas na ipinasa mismo ng Kongreso at inaprubahan ng Pangulo.
Nagkaroon ng amendments para sa ilang locally funded infrastructure (LFI) projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), kabilang na ang mga pagbabago sa project descriptions, station limits, at geographic coordinates, na nagresulta sa pagbabago ng ilang proyekto na orihinal na nakasaad sa National Expenditure Program (NEP) na isinumite ng Executive.
Ayon sa President’s Veto Message para sa FY 2026 GAA, ang ganitong mga Congress Introduced Changes and Adjustments (CICA) ay nangangailangan ng karagdagang validation at clearance bago mailabas ang pondo.
Nakasaad sa Article VI ng President’s Veto Message na: “…the increases in appropriations and new budgetary items introduced by the Congress in this Budget shall be subject to the national government’s cash programming, observance of prudent fiscal management, applicable budget execution rules and procedures… based on the programmed priorities of the government….”
Dahil may mga pagbabago sa mga proyekto sa proseso ng batas, hindi naisama ang pondo para sa mga proyektong ito sa GAA as the Allotment Order (GAAAO), na nagbibigay-daan sa comprehensive release of allotments simula pa lamang ng fiscal year. Sa halip, ang appropriation para sa mga nasabing proyekto ay inilagay muna sa For Issuance of SARO (FISARO) o conditional release, alinsunod sa umiiral na budget execution safeguards.
Sa ilalim ng ganitong sistema, kailangang magsumite muna ang implementing agency ng formal request sa DBM para sa release ng pondo, kasama ang kinakailangang dokumento at kanilang project prioritization. Kapag kumpleto na ang mga ito, saka lamang maaaring maglabas ang DBM ng Special Allotment Release Order (SARO).
Tungkol naman sa mga proyektong nabanggit, ang initial request na isinumite ng DPWH para sa FISARO para sa ilang LFI projects ay pansamantalang binawi ng implementing agency upang makumpleto at maayos ang mga kinakailangang supporting documents. Ayon sa DPWH, isusumite nila ang kumpletong documentary requirements sa lalong madaling panahon upang maproseso ng DBM ang request at maiproseso na rin ang legal na paglabas ng pondo para rito.
Ikalawa, hindi tama ang sinasabing kailangan munang ipa-bid ang mga proyekto bago magdesisyon kung maglalabas ng pondo ang DBM.
Ang ipinapayo ng DBM sa mga ahensya ay magsagawa ng early procurement activities short of award para sa mga programs, activities, at projects na nasa NEP. Layunin nitong maihanda ang procurement process nang mas maaga upang mapabilis ang implementasyon ng proyekto kapag available na ang budget.
Ginagawa ito short of award dahil ang NEP ay dumadaan pa sa legislative process, kung saan maaaring magkaroon ng adjustments sa mga detalye ng proyekto.
Ikatlo, mahalagang linawin na hindi maaaring maglabas ng pondo ang DBM para sa proyektong hindi pa nire-request ng implementing agency. Ang budget releases ay nagsisimula lamang kapag may opisyal na request mula sa implementing agency, at hindi dahil sa unilateral na aksyon ng DBM.
Hindi pinapabagal ng DBM ang mga proyekto. Tinitiyak lamang nito na ang paglabas ng pondo ng gobyerno ay ayon sa batas at alinsunod sa budget na inaprubahan ng Kongreso at nilagdaan ng Pangulo.
Sa huli, ang mandato ng DBM ay hindi pulitikal kundi institusyonal. Responsibilidad ng DBM na pangalagaan ang integridad ng national budget, protektahan ang pondo ng taumbayan, at tiyaking ang mga programa ng gobyerno ay ipinatutupad ayon sa batas.
Patuloy na makikipagtulungan ang DBM sa Congress at sa mga implementing agencies upang matiyak ang maayos, legal, at napapanahong implementasyon ng infrastructure programs para sa kapakinabangan ng mga Pilipino.
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