THE House of Representatives on Friday approved the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), or House Bill 4058, on second reading, while implementing a cut to the budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The lower chamber adopted the recommendations of the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARC) as amendments to the GAB, including a major adjustment aimed at ensuring transparency in the use of unprogrammed funds.
The 2026 GAB was approved on second reading through viva voce voting.
One of the key amendments is the reduction of the OVP budget, which was proposed by House Deputy Minority Leader of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Leila De Lima during the period of individual amendments to the national budget.
‘I proposed an amendment to reduce the OVP’s budget from P889.24 million to its 2025 level of P733.2 million, a cut of P156 million, or 17.5 percent,’ De Lima said, citing GAB Volume I-A, Page 22, Line 19.
She emphasized the principle of accountability in the use of public funds. ‘Every peso in this budget is the people’s money. And when we demand accountability, we do so not out of hostility, but out of duty-duty to the Constitution, duty to the people, and duty to the truth,’ she said.
The lawmaker criticized Vice President Duterte for refusing to appear before the chamber. ‘Her repeated refusal to face this House is an insult. It spits on the duty of accountability while she clings to millions in public funds she refuses to explain. This is arrogance,’ she said, drawing a comparison to a child refusing to account for the family allowance.
‘Congress holds the purse. And when a child squanders the family’s money without answers, the remedy is clear: reduce the allowance until they learn responsibility,’ she added.
The lawmaker clarified that the budget cut is meant as a disciplinary measure, not an attempt to dismantle the OVP. ‘This is discipline, not demolition. Public money is not a toy. It is a trust. And until the vice president learns respect, this House must act as the parent that disciplines a brat,’ she said, contrasting the measure with past actions taken against the Commission on Human Rights.
Unprogrammed appropriations
Also, one of the amendments is the removal of P35 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the 2026 unprogrammed appropriations, a move designed to prevent the misuse of lump-sum funds.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, representing the House Committee on Appropriations, explained that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) agreed with the House panel’s proposal to exclude infrastructure projects from the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) as a safeguard against potential misuse.
She clarified that unprogrammed appropriations are now divided into two categories: SAGIP and support for foreign-assisted projects (FAPs). While infrastructure funding under SAGIP will be removed, projects under FAPs will remain to honor the Philippines’ commitments to foreign and multilateral partners such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Also, SAGIP will be now called the Strengthening Assistance for Government Programs (SAGP).
Suansing added that a significant portion of unprogrammed funds previously allocated under SAGIP has already been revised in the second reading of the GAB. Only P45 billion remain under the newly designated Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs (SAGP), primarily earmarked for agricultural subsidies, rice subsidies, and augmented funding for the 4Ps program administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
She noted that FAP infrastructure projects remain under unprogrammed appropriations because they do not yet meet the criteria for inclusion in programmed allocations, which require finalized contracts with international partners and NEDA Board approval.
During the period of individual amendments, Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno urged the House to eliminate all unprogrammed appropriations, which total P243.22 billion, arguing that if these funds were truly national priorities, they should be included in the programmed budgets of the relevant departments.
However, a motion to reject Diokno’s proposal, supported by the committee and the majority, was approved.
Key agencies
Another set of amendments to the national budget bill adopted by the plenary involves additional allocations for three key sectors: education, health, and agriculture.
Under the proposed amendments, the education sector-which covers the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the Philippine Science High School System (PSHS)-is set to
receive an extra P56.64 billion. This brings the sector’s 2026 budget to P1.36 trillion, or 4.36 percent of GDP, marking the first time it surpasses the 4-percent milestone.
The health sector, including the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, will see an increase of P92.57 billion. Meanwhile, the agriculture sector-which covers the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-will gain an additional P53.75 billion.
These budget boosts were made possible through the reallocation of P255 billion previously earmarked for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Of this, P202.96 billion has been redirected to education and agriculture, with the remainder supporting other government agencies.
Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Friday assured the public that the House of Representatives has introduced key reforms to ensure full transparency and accountability in both the crafting and implementation of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
The General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is targeted for final approval on third reading by Monday, October 13.