President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (PHOTO: Official Facebook page of PCO)
MANILA, Philippines — The scheduled signing of the General Appropriations Act on Friday, December 20 will not push through for a more “rigorous and exhaustive review,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Wednesday.
“The ongoing assessment is being led by the President himself, in consultation with the heads of major departments,” he said in a statement.
Bersamin added that while he cannot yet announce the date of the signing, he can 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.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. was scheduled to sign the 2025 national budget on December 20, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez said last December 11.
Earlier in the day, the Bicameral Conference Committee approved the committee report on the proposed P6.325 trillion national budget for next year.
It contains the reconciled and consolidated versions from the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate and House contingents have yet to discuss the changes they made to the budget in detail.