President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “directly vetoed the largest amount of appropriations in history,” a Palace official said, rejecting criticisms from Catholic leaders that the 2025 spending plan had questionable insertions and allocations.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President purged this year’s national budget of unnecessary items and aligned it with national priorities.
“What should be remembered is that the President directly vetoed the largest amount of appropriations in history. No president before him had ever so deeply and comprehensively purged the budget of unnecessary items,” Bersamin said.
“He later directed, within the powers vested in him, the rechanneling of billions in funds to projects and programs that create social good, spur progress, and serve the welfare of the people. There are now stricter conditionalities for budget releases, ensuring alignment with national priorities and protection from partisan interests,” he added.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines earlier criticized the budget for its supposed emphasis on financial assistance programs, which it claimed fostered corruption and patronage politics, particularly in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
“Having undergone adjustments permitted by law, the funds will be released transparently and in accordance with good governance principles and laws. All of this stems from the recognition that financing the budget is shouldered by the people; therefore, its implementation must honor the sacrifices they have made,” Bersamin said.
Mr. Marcos signed the 2025 General Appropriations Act on Dec. 30, 2024 and vetoed P194-billion line items he deemed inconsistent with his administration’s priorities.
The vetoed items included some P26 billion for programs and projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and P168 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.
Meanwhile, 12 programs, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), were subjected to “conditional implementation.”