Philippines’ Marcos slashes ‘back door’ budget allocations amid flood control scandal
Marcos used his veto powers to cut unprogrammed appropriations, historically prone to corruption, to their lowest level since 2019
While the 2026 budget was 7 per cent higher than last year’s spending plan, the president cut nearly US$1.6 billion in so-called unprogrammed appropriations that are historically prone to corruption.
Marcos approved the 2026 budget later compared to previous years, as allocations underwent closer scrutiny due to corruption allegations. Cabinet officials and legislators witnessed the signing at a ceremony in the presidential palace in Manila.
“To my countrymen, we feel your doubts and worries about the previous budget. We are one in the desire to ensure that every peso of your taxes will go to the right projects and real needs of the people,” said Marcos, whose popularity ratings have dropped since the corruption investigations.
Marcos said he used his veto powers to cut back unprogrammed appropriations to their lowest level since 2019.
Philippine church group protests against flood-control corruption scandal
This type of funding only has broad spending categories instead of specific breakdowns, and their use has previously been vulnerable to politicians’ discretion.