Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) — Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the finance committee, on Thursday issued clarifications on the issue of unprogrammed appropriations after Minority Leader Koko Pimentel questioned the ₱450 billion increase in the fund under the 2024 budget.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Angara confirmed the unprogrammed appropriations for 2024 have been increased to ₱731.4 billion from ₱281.9 billion after the bicameral conference.
Despite the increase, he noted this will still depend on the government’ s revenue or tax collections. Standby appropriations can only be implemented if the income will be higher than expected, he noted.
Just like in a household, “yung programmed, yun yung priority mo… That’s the tuition, that’s your electricity bills, your food and then say pagka nakakuha ko ng bonus then pwede tayong… mag ayos tayo ng bahay,” he explained.
[Translation: The programmed is your priority. That’s the tuition, that’s your electricity bills, your food and then say you receive your bonus then you can have your house fixed.]
Pimentel on Wednesday said the ₱450 billion increase in unprogrammed appropriations is unconstitutional and may be a basis to question the 2024 budget in the Supreme Court.
While anything can be questioned in the SC, Angara maintained that unprogrammed funds are conditional, noting that it is like a menu the government can choose from. It also gives the executive branch an elbow room in its implementation of programs and prevents having to enact a supplemental budget which takes time to be approved, he added.
\”When you talk about the unprogrammed appropriations, that’s within the control of the executive because they can choose within that menu which ones will be funded and they are the ones releasing the money and the conditions are largely dependent on executive action,\” Angara said.
The senator pointed out that unprogrammed funds are not new in the government. He also said an increased appropriation for this is a sign of a growing economy because this would mean a projected increase in collections, which will also make way for more projects to be implemented.
