Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III admitted that reported insertions is part of the regular process during the deliberations, following disclosure of former Senator Grace Poe Llamasares All senators in the 19th Congress had submitted amendments or insertions in the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that “almost all” the senators of the 19th Congress inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 GAA.

Sotto explained that not all insertions in the 2025 national budget were improper as they were individual amendments during the budget deliberations in the upper chamber.

“Amendments or insertions, whether individual or institutional, done during the deliberations in the Senate, are part of the regular budget process,” the Senate President said.

“It is unfortunate that the issue on ghost projects and failed flood control projects affect and generalized all amendments as illegal or improper,” he added.

Sotto said that some of the amendments were for additional classrooms, as well as farm-to-market roads and bridges that will benefit the public, especially those living in far-flung areas.

Regardless, Sotto assured that the Senate will be more transparent when it comes to the 2026 national budget.

One suggestion, he said, is for senators to present their amendments on the floor during second reading of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

“Rest assured that for the 2026 budget, the Senate will institute changes for greater transparency, people’s participation and accountability,” Sotto said.

The Senate President also backed the proposal of Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian to remove all unprogrammed appropriations and transfer it to the programmed appropriations for transparency purposes.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito also stressed that not all amendments are “bad,” especially those that help agencies and departments.

“One of our tasks is to introduce amendments after the budget hearings to support and further improve programs and projects. Amendments are not tainted as long as there is no post-enactment intervention,” Ejercito said.