Erice hopes unprogrammed funds will be gone for goodReps. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) and Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) file a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — A Supreme Court ruling on the illegality of unprogrammed funds may lead to the permanent removal of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the annual national budget, according to Caloocan 2nd district Rep. Edgar Erice. Erice, along with Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, filed a petition on Thursday asking the Supreme Court to strike down the P150.9-billion UA remaining in the 2026 outlay. The Department of Budget and Management has touted this year’s unprogrammed funds to be the lowest in seven years, but President Marcos’ first enacted budget in 2023 contained P807 billion. “In the last Congress, the congressmen were incentivized to really pursue Sara,” he said.

Source: Philippine Star January 09, 2026 21:28 UTC