Malacañang through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced on Wednesday that the scheduled signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) on Friday, December 20, will not push through as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. needs more time to review the budget legislation.
“The scheduled signing of the General Appropriations Act on December 20 will not push through to allow more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review of a measure that will determine the course of the nation for the next year,” Bersamin said in a statement.
Bersamin said President Marcos is leading the ongoing assessment of the draft GAA himself in consultation with the heads of major departments in the executive branch. He confirmed that the President will veto some of the items in the bill.
“While we cannot yet announce the date of the signing, we can now confirm that certain items and provisions of the national budget bill will be vetoed in the interest of public welfare, to conform with the fiscal program, and in compliance with laws,” Bersamin said.
