MALACANANG said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will work during the holidays if needed to thoroughly review the proposed 2026 national budget, even as lawmakers finalize the measure on a compressed timetable days before year-end.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President had expected the enrolled bill to be submitted earlier, but remained determined to study the budget measure closely prior to signing it before Dec.31, provided it aligns with administration priorities.
“The President will make sure the enrolled bill is carefully studied, closely monitored and thoroughly scrutinized,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
“What is important is that the provisions are consistent with the administration’s priorities, a clean, humane budget focused on the welfare of the people,” she added.
Asked on whether the President would take a Christmas break, Castro said the review will take precedence.
“There will be no holidays if needed,” she said.
“The budget must be studied thoroughly, and the President will push to sign it before the end of the year,” Castro added.
The Bicameral Conference Committee is expected to sign its report on Dec. 28, with ratification set for Dec. 29, leaving the President a narrow window to review the measure.
Castro said the limited time frame will not deter the President from exercising his power to veto questionable provisions.
“What the President truly wants is to have this signed before the year ends. So, if it’s something that must be studied, if there won’t be any sleep, there won’t be any sleep, we’ll do it,” Castro said.
“Even with limited time, the President will study it carefully. If there are items that should be vetoed, the President will veto them,” she added.
She gave assurance that transparency remains a priority of the Marcos administration, given congressional guarantees that the budget is “clean” and corruption-free.
Castro said the President will independently assess the measure.
“Even if Congress says it was studied well, the President will still review it and assure the public that this is a humane and orderly national budget,” she said.
Castro said the review will be led by the President, with the Department of Budget and Management and relevant Cabinet secretaries possibly called in to explain provisions related to their agencies as necessary.
