SC holds oral arguments on national budget, unprogrammed funds

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 7, begins oral arguments on petitions challenging the legality of unprogrammed appropriations and special accounts in the national budget.

In the consolidated cases, the petitioners seek to nullify various adjustments made by the bicameral conference committees that inflated the national budget for three consecutive years.

In a petition, the late Albay 1st District representative Edcel Lagman and others sought to declare the P448.5-billion bicameral insertion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act as unconstitutional.

Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement Incorporated, meanwhile, questioned the 2025 budget, particularly the increase in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Special Road Fund from P16.756 billion to P34.748 billion.

Also part of the oral arguments is Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima’s petition to declare the unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget unconstitutional.

Watch the livestream here.

The second round of oral arguments is scheduled on Tuesday, April 21. – Rappler.com