President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law the P6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), putting a firm stamp on a spending plan that prioritizes education, health care, and agriculture—while drawing clear boundaries against discretionary excess.
At the bill’s signing into law on Monday, President Marcos announced the veto of several items under Unprogrammed Appropriations totaling nearly P92.5 billion, stressing that such funds must never function as open-ended spending authority.
The move trims the unprogrammed appropriations to what Malacañang described as the lowest level since 2019, reinforcing a tighter fiscal posture amid public scrutiny of budget practices.
“To ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interests, I vetoed several items of appropriations with their purposes and corresponding Special Provisions under the UA,” Marcos said, underscoring that the rejected items lacked sufficient safeguards.
While acknowledging Congress’ efforts to confine the UA to essential needs, the President went further, warning against any attempt to use it as a “backdoor for discretionary spending.”
He emphasized that releases under the unprogrammed appropriations will only be triggered by clearly defined conditions, subjected to careful validation, and enforced “without exception.”
Transparency, Marcos said, will be central to implementation. Any release charged to the unprogrammed appropriations will disclose its funding source and specific purpose, ensuring public visibility over how government resources are deployed.
Beyond the vetoes, the 2026 budget signals continuity in social and economic priorities.
Education remains a cornerstone, alongside sustained investments in public health services and agricultural support aimed at food security and rural livelihoods. Marcos directed all government agencies to exercise prudent fiscal management to guarantee uninterrupted and quality public service.
Addressing the public in Filipino, the President acknowledged lingering concerns over past budgets and affirmed solidarity with citizens demanding accountability.
Every peso collected, he said, must go to the right project and the people’s real needs—turning the 2026 budget into both a spending plan and a statement of discipline.
