The Department of Budget and Management of the Philippines vows compliance with the Supreme Court directive concerning unprogrammed funds in the 2026 national budget, while respecting unaffected budget provisions and exploring possible judicial reconsideration.
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on October 25, 2026, its commitment to abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring unconstitutional the provisions on unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets. The SC decision cited irregular budget increases authorized by Congress as grounds for the ruling.
In a formal statement, the DBM affirmed it would strictly observe the Court’s directives related to unprogrammed funds while continuing to implement other provisions of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) unaffected by the decision, in full compliance with the Constitution and other governing laws. The department emphasized that unaffected budgetary provisions remain implementable within their respective legal and procedural frameworks.
DBM clarified that funds released from the 2026 UA so far have been allocated exclusively to foreign-assisted projects, which follow separate funding rules that the Court’s ruling did not invalidate. The department will coordinate closely with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and other government agencies to assess the ruling’s legal, fiscal, and operational impacts, and to plan necessary next steps.
While Malacañang expressed respectful disagreement with certain parts of the decision and tasked the OSG to file a motion for reconsideration, it also acknowledged the legal respect for the ruling. The DBM and related offices seek to ensure fiscal stability and uninterrupted government service delivery during this process.
This development is significant for the Philippine government’s budget management and fiscal policy amid ongoing efforts to balance constitutional mandates and legislative budgetary powers. It also highlights the judicial system’s active role in overseeing budgetary discipline, which may indirectly affect areas such as funding for government projects involving overseas workers and development initiatives.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1007115/dbm-vows-to-comply-with-sc-ruling-on-2026-budget-s-unprogrammed-funds/story/
