Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — Former Senator Panfilo Lacson questioned the ₱450 billion hike in unprogrammed funds under the 2024 national budget, noting that it could be “a very bad precedent” in future national expenditure programs (NEP).
Lacson said the Supreme Court should clarify Article VI, Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution which states that Congress may not increase the appropriations recommended by the President.
\”What can prevent Congress from adding ₱1-trillion or even more in the next succeeding budget deliberations [?] So we borrow more to fund the excess in the Unprogrammed Fund under the NEP,\” said Lacson in a statement. \”Needless to say, this is a very bad precedent.\”
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel earlier flagged the sudden hike of the unprogrammed funds in next year’s budget from the proposed ₱281.9 billion to ₱731.4 billion after the bicameral conference.
But Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Committee on Finance, defended the increase, saying this will still depend on the government’s revenue or tax collections.
