President Marcos yesterday continued to lead the review of certain provisions of the proposed 2025 national budget as a senior Palace official sought to dispel speculation about reenacting this year’s allocation.
Mr. Marcos met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, members of the Economic Cluster, and Secretary of Public Works and Highways Manuel Bonoan.
The Economic Cluster—composed of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan—provided detailed input on the spending plan, which was received in printed form late Friday afternoon.
Last week, the President assured the public that the proposed 2025 national budget will be signed into law before Dec. 31.
“I think we’ll be able to do it before the year ends,” he told Palace reporters, addressing concerns over the delayed signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The President announced that his administration is reviewing the approved budget line-by-line to ensure resources are allocated to essential projects and programs.
Mr. Marcos also emphasized the importance of acting promptly on the measure, aiming to sign it before the year ends.
The proposed budget is expected to outline the administration’s priorities for 2025, focusing on economic recovery, infrastructure development, and public welfare initiatives.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez said that there was never any discussion about a reenacted budget.
‘’In the past two meetings that I attended with them, there was never a discussion on that (reenacted budget),’’ he told Palace reporters.
‘’President Marcos Jr. hopes to act on the measure before the year ends,’’ Chavez added.
Section 25 (7), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution states that if by the end of any fiscal year, Congress failed to pass the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for the ensuing year, the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and in effect until the GAB is passed by Congress.
Although the budget was scheduled for signing on December 20, Mr. Marcos indicated that more time was needed to evaluate specific provisions, particularly those added during bicameral discussions.
As this developed, the Clergy for Good Governance held an Ecumenical Prayer Service calling for amendments to the budget approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee.
In a press conference, co-convenor Fr. Tony Labiao said that their group is seeking the restoration of cuts made on the Department of Education and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation budgets.
“For governance to be good, we need to have transparency. We wished that the budget was created with no hidden machinations. We felt that it could have been deliberated on the plenary and not on the bicam,” he said.
