House subcommittee cuts funding for infra, health items in 2026 budget

THE Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the House appropriations committee has slashed funding for several items under unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

House appropriations committee chair Rep. Mikaela Suansing announced that funding for local infrastructure projects will no longer be sourced from the P80.86 billion allocation under the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP).

The SAGIP allocation has been reduced to P45 billion and will now be called the Strengthening Assistance for Government Programs (SAGP), earmarked for foreign-assisted projects. This change aims to prevent the use of SAGP funds for infrastructure projects, a practice that occurred in previous years, including for flood control projects.

The BARSc also removed P6.7 billion for public health emergency allowances from the unprogrammed funds, following a suggestion from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as these allowances have been fully paid as of 2025.

Unprogrammed funds, totaling P250 billion in the 2026 National Expenditure Program, are activated only when there is excess revenue collection or funds from foreign loans or grants. The move comes after Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III expressed his intention to push for the removal of unprogrammed funds in the national budget, a proposal supported by opposition lawmakers.