President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called for the inclusion of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) priority programs in the programmed appropriations of the 2026 national budget. Speaking at a meeting in Malacañan Palace, Manila, Marcos emphasized the importance of ensuring these programs are not relegated to unprogrammed appropriations, which would delay the delivery of essential services to the underprivileged and vulnerable populations.
Marcos stated, “DSWD programs should no longer be in the unprogrammed appropriation next year,” highlighting the need for immediate and effective implementation. He added, “Dapat nandyan na (programmed) para mabilis mapakinabangan,” underscoring the urgency for these programs to be readily available for the benefit of Filipinos.
The DSWD’s budget saw a reduction of PHP10.85 billion, or 4.79 percent, from PHP226.67 billion in the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to PHP215.82 billion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This cut prompted Marcos to convene a meeting with DSWD officials to review the agency’s priority projects that were defunded in the 2025 GAA.
The DSWD is currently seeking an additional PHP41.8 billion from unprogrammed appropriations to fund the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) grants from August to December 2025. Programmed appropriations are fully funded and ready for implementation, whereas unprogrammed appropriations serve as a contingency, only accessible if revenue exceeds targets or additional foreign loans are secured.
During the first full Cabinet meeting on January 7, Marcos ordered a review of the programs defunded by Congress in the NEP, particularly those vital to the socioeconomic agenda. He also pushed for the reinstatement of funding for critical administration projects.