Albay lawmaker rejects 2026 budget over unprogrammed appropriations
Legislative debates over the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) intensified as Albay 1st District Representative Cielo Krisel Lagman announced she would not sign the 2026 budget. Lagman argued that the bill contains unprogrammed appropriations or insertions, a practice she says perpetuates budgetary malpractices and could invite abuses similar to prior years.
In a statement sent to The Manila Times, Lagman expressed consternation about the continuing presence of unprogrammed appropriations within the bill. She asserted that, to guard against a repetition of grave abuses, she would personally opt to see unprogrammed appropriations scrapped altogether. “I vote ‘No’ to House Bill 4058 despite some budgetary reforms, both procedural and substantive, that we have adopted, which I hope will be sustained and improved in succeeding Congresses,” Lagman stated.
Lagman stressed the importance of budgetary discipline and warned against arbitrary insertions that could divert funds away from programmed allocations. She noted that unprogrammed funds should only be endorsed if they fast-track urgent social and economic services, and only if the overall level of unprogrammed appropriations stays within the framework set by the National Expenditure Program (NEP), as was the case in 2024 and 2025.
In her view, the congressional power over budget must be exercised judiciously. She pointed to concerns about debt servicing in the 2026 plan, describing the debt allocation as largely restricted to interest payments, with principal repayments expected to rely on substantial new borrowings. Lagman warned that balancing the budget amid these obligations would be a “Herculean task” for the country, which carried a national debt of roughly P17.47 trillion as of August 2025.
Despite these concerns, Lagman acknowledged that a supplemental budget mechanism could offer a practical alternative in contingencies. She suggested that supplementals can combine speed with deliberation, reducing arbitrariness while still allowing timely responses to emergencies. “Supplemental budgets can provide a good balance of speed and deliberation in addressing the challenge of the contingency,” she explained.
Lagman emphasized that a sizeable portion of the budget—nearly P1 trillion for debt service alone—could be redirected to critical social programs, such as classroom construction, nutrition, and health initiatives. She reiterated her stance, declaring, “I reiterate my ‘No’ vote to House Bill 4058.”
The controversy echoes past budget debates. Lagman had previously questioned the 2025 budget amid accusations of fund insertions, including the diversion of the P1.8-billion district budget in Albay during the bicameral conference. She also implicated former Ako Bicol appropriation chairman Elizaldy Co in diverting funds, though she noted that a separate project, the Alimsog road in Santo Domingo, was retained, linking the matter to broader questions about accountability and transparency in allocations.
As lawmakers continue negotiations on the 2026 budget framework, Lagman’s stance underscores a call for tighter controls on insertions and greater transparency in how funds are programmed and released. Supporters of the reform agenda argue that curbing unprogrammed appropriations is essential to maintain fiscal discipline, protect public services, and ensure that budgetary decisions reflect genuine national priorities rather than ad hoc spending shifts.
What comes next for House Bill 4058 and budget reforms
With Lagman publicly opposing the bill, the path forward for House Bill 4058 remains uncertain. Proponents of the reform agenda may need to address the concerns about unprogrammed appropriations directly, offering tighter criteria for any insertions and clearer safeguards against misuse. Opponents of the approach worry about potential delays in delivering urgent social services if reforms are too rigid.
Ultimately, the 2026 budget debate centers on balancing fiscal responsibility with the government’s obligation to swiftly address critical needs. As the national debt grows and borrowing requirements expand, lawmakers face pressure to ensure that spending aligns with transparent, accountable budgetary processes that serve the people without compromising long-term financial stability.
