QUEZON CITY—House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice is set to challenge the constitutionality of the remaining Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) in the 2026 National Budget before the Supreme Court. 

Despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoing P92.5 billion of the UA, over P150 billion remains in the budget. Erice argues that these allocations are unconstitutional because they lack a definite source of financing, characterizing the practice as a flawed and legally unstable method of national budgeting.

“I will have to challenge it before the supreme court,” Representative Erice said

The Caloocan representative emphasized the urgency of high court ruling to define whether budgeting for projects without guaranteed funding violates the constitution. 

“Mahalaga din na matuldukan na ito at ma-define na talaga ng korte suprema kung talagang ang ganitong uri ng pagba-budget na walang katapat na source of financing ay labag sa ating konstitusyon.” The Caloocan congressman said.

[“It is also important to put an end to this and for the Supreme Court to finally define whether this type of budgeting—which lacks a corresponding source of financing—is truly a violation of our constitution."]

Congressman Erice confirmed that his legal team is finalizing the petition for immediate filing to permanently address the use of unprogrammed appropriations. 

Even with the President’s partial veto, the lawmaker insists on a judicial intervention to stop the government from placing vital public services in a financial chaos.