Senato TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 26 MAR 17 P1 52 SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 1986 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF FIFTY-TWO BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P52,800,000,000) AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ?. FOR FY 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING FISCAL PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE SECTORS TO PREVENT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC CONTRACTION DURING THE 2026 MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE 1: : The escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the functional closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026, has initiated a structural shock to our country's energy and labor, testing the resilience of the Philippine macroeconomy and the survival of its most vulnerable citizens. Domestic fuel prices have logged 10 consecutive weeks of increases, with diesel testing the P80 to P90 per liter range. Global urea prices have surged to $610 per metric ton, a departure from the 2025 average of $397 per metric ton. Nearly 500,000 of our OFws face repatriation and need reintegration support when they come home. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) there is only around P2.5 billion from continuing funds from 2025 to fund the fuel subsidy. This is less than the projected cost of P12 billion to fully fund the transport subsidy program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) only has P150 million in available subsidy funding, while the rising fertilizer costs expose the sector to an additional cost of around P2.8 billion. If the situation worsens in the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) would need around P38 billion to repatriate and support our returning OFWs through reintegration programs. This is a far cry from the available P1.76 billion emergency funds of the DMW. The supplemental budget seeks to appropriate fifty-two billion and eight hundred million pesos (P52,800,000,000) to fund the much-needed support to families, sectors and communities directly and indirectly affected by the conflict in the Middle East. This supplemental budget includes P12 billion pesos for transport subsidy, P2.8 billion for agricultural subsidy, and P38 billion in emergency funds for OFW
repatriation and reintegration. There are available funds that the government can use to operationalize this. These include, but are not limited to, around P70 billion from discontinued flood control projects from 2025. There is currently P17.5 billion budgeted for the 2026 ASEAN Summit, which can be rationalized and trimmed down by our organizing committees. There is also P2.5 billion from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization which can be repurposed from agri-mechanization to an agricultural subsidy. The government can also adopt a "phased obligation" of its large-scale infrastructure projects, which can free up fiscal space. With these in mind, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Earlieros Baraguel RISA HONTIVEROS Senator
Seitate Heart Offier of the southp 26 MAR 17 P1:52 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: _ SENATE Senate Bill No. 1986 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF FIFTY-TWO BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P52,800,000,000) AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING FISCAL PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE SECTORS TO PREVENT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC CONTRACTION DURING THE 2026 MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled.
Section 1. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty-Two Billion Eight Hundred
Million Pesos (P52,800,000,000) is hereby appropriated out of any available funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, as supplemental appropriations for FY 2026.
Section 2. Assistance to Victims, Individuals and Communities Affected by the
7 Crisis in the Middle East. - The amount appropriated herein shall be used exclusively 8 to augment aid, relief, repatriation, rehabilitation, reintegration and livelihood 9 programs and projects implemented by concerned government agencies for Filipinos impacted by the direct and indirect effects of the conflict in the Middle East. These shall consist of: a. Twelve Billion Pesos (P12,000,000,000.00) for the transport fuel subsidy, which in part can fund the service contracting program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr); b. Two Billion Eight Hundred Million Pesos (P2,800,000,000.00) for the agricultural subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk of the Department of Agriculture (DA); c. Eighteen Billion Pesos (P18,000,000,000.00) for the emergency repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); and d. Twenty Billion Pesos (P20,000,000,000.00) for the reintegration program of repatriated OFWs affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
Section 3. Use and Release of Funds. - The amount appropriated shall be
released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the implementing agencies with the approval of the President of the Philippines, who may take into consideration the recommendation of the respective government agencies. The releases may utilize digital wallets per COA Circular 2021-014, in order for expedient release of transport and agricultural subsidies.
Section 4. Sources of Funding. - To ensure the availability of funds under this
Act, the following measures are hereby authorized: a. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby directed to review all outstanding Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) for infrastructure programs under the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act, including but not limited to flood control projects, whose implementing contracts have not been perfected as of the effectivity of this Act. The DBM shall cancel such SAROs and revert the corresponding allotments to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund. b. Excess revenue collections arising from higher-than-assumed petroleum product prices under the FY 2026 revenue program are hereby earmarked for the appropriations under this Act, subject to certification by the National Treasurer c. The DBM, in coordination with the relevant departments and regional development councils, is authorized to rationalize discretionary allocations under the FY 2026 GAA, including event hosting, travel, and promotional budgets, to generate additional fiscal space for the purposes of this Act.
Section 5. Applicability of General and Special Provisions in the FY 2026 General
Appropriations Act. - The amounts herein appropriated shall be used for the purposes indicated in this Act and subject to the applicable special and general provisions under Republic Act No. 12314 or the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Section 6. Availability of Appropriations. - The provisions of Republic Act No.
12314 to the contrary notwithstanding, the appropriations authorized in this Act shall be available for release and obligation for the purposes specified from the date of the effectivity of this Act until December 31, 2026.
Section 7. Transparency Provisions. - Implementing agencies shall ensure that
the details of activities and/or projects are included as part of the information posted on their respective transparency seals required under relevant laws and regulations.
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section or part of this Act shall
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgement shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.
Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette. Approved,