MANILA — On Monday, senators applauded the signing of the P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 and the veto of approximately P92.5 billion worth of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) projects.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III responded to a message regarding the veto by saying, “I know the 2026 budget is by far the cleanest ever but it seems the President wants it squeaky clean. He even highlighted the Senate provision that prevents political patronage by politicians.”

According to Sotto, the President was right to veto the aforementioned items.

Sotto said, “Malinis yun budget pero gusto ni PBBM mas malinis pa.”

The Senate Finance Committee’s vice chairman, Senator Erwin Tulfo, praised the veto and called the budget the “most transparent budget law in recent history.”

Tulfo said in a statement, “This is what we need, a budget that will restore the public’s trust to the government. We are grateful that the President heeded our call to limit the use of unprogrammed appropriations and vetoed P92.5 billion worth of projects lodged under this budgetary mechanism,”

He continued, “President Marcos’ decision to veto several items under the unprogrammed funds is just a step toward full and real accountability,”

Tulfo has earlier raised concerns about the P243 billion allotted to the UA during the bicameral conference committee, saying that it could be misused.

Senator Bam Aquino also welcomed the budget’s signing and emphasized how the education sector, which would receive the largest amount of funding—P1.34 trillion—will receive much-needed help.

Aquino says that P68 billion of the education budget will go toward building additional classrooms, P25.6 billion toward expanding the School-Based Feeding Program, and P67 billion toward putting Republic Act 1093, also known as the Free College Law, into effect.

Aquino said, “Sama-sama nating bantayan ang paggamit ng pondong ito, hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang sentimo, upang masigurong mapupunta ito sa edukasyon at hindi sa korapsyon.”

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