President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. | (FILE PHOTO / PCO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will sign the proposed P5.768 trillion 2024 national budget on December 20, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Saturday.
“Opo, December 20 po ang pirmahan ng ating national budget,” Zubiri said when asked in an interview in DWIZ 882.
(Yes, the national budget will be signed on December 20.)
Zubiri said that if he is not mistaken, the signing would be in the morning, noting that the president is still in Japan until Dec. 18, and will have to rest on the following day.
“December 20 po ang ating pirmahan ng budget, that’s for sure,” he asserted.
(December 20 is the budget signing, that’s for sure.)
Zubiri also said that he is hopeful that Marcos will not veto items on the budget, including the increased unprogrammed funds, which was opposed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.
The proposed national budget for next year is P5.768 trillion, and Zubiri said they have already submitted it to the Office of the President.
“Na-submit na namin po ang budget sa ating Pangulo, sa Malacañang, and we’re just waiting for his signature,” Zubiri said.
(We have already submitted the budget to the President, to the Malacañang, and we’re just waiting for his signature.)
“I’m sure nago-overtime po yung legal ng Malacañang na tignan yung mga items—kung may ivi-veto sila. But so far, ang feedback ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management), okay naman” he added.
(I’m sure the legal team at Malacañang is working overtime to review the items—if there is any that they will veto. But so far, the feedback from the DBM is that it is okay.)
Zubiri said that during the bicameral conference of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the DBM was with them to raise concerns on the budget proposal.
“So with the assurance of the DBM, na okay naman nitong last bicam, I hope that wala na pong ma-veto na items.”
(So with the assurance from the DBM, that it is okay during the last bicameral, I hope that there will be no items vetoed.)