Manila, Jan. 9 -- Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday said unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2026 national budget are constitutional and intended as standby funds that may only be released under strict conditions.

In a Zoom interview with Senate media, Sotto explained that unprogrammed funds are not immediately spendable and may only be tapped once specific fiscal requirements are met.

"Standby appropriation kasi 'yan na puwede lang ilabas kapag may malinaw na financial o fiscal conditions at dumaan sa mahigpit na validation (These are standby appropriations that may only be released when there are clear financial or fiscal conditions and after strict validation)," he said.

He said safeguards were strengthened following...