Sotto: Marcos’ slash of unprogrammed funds aims for clean 2026 budget

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to slash P92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations is part of the government’s effort to make the 2026 national budget “squeaky clean.” The proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill, approved and ratified by both chambers of Congress, contains P243 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.