UnprogrammedMy spellchecker does not accept the word “unprogrammed.” This machine has a better grasp of semantics than many of our legislators. “Unprogrammed” makes no logical sense. This is because a significant portion of our national budget goes under the heading of “unprogrammed appropriations” (UA). Of that total, 64 percent or P378.2 billion was for loan proceeds destined for foreign-assisted projects. Even more urgent, those who wield the power of the purse with such impunity should spare the executive branch the misery of scrambling to find the money for appropriated but “unprogrammed” items.

Source: Philippine Star February 28, 2026 03:27 UTC