DBM clears up budget confusion, confirms signed GAA is complete

DBM clears up budget confusion, confirms signed GAA is complete

By: - Reporter / @luisacabatoINQ
/ 05:00 PM January 20, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — The 2025 national budget has recently drawn attention due to allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed it despite incomplete allocations.

This has further stirred confusion among the public, especially as copies of the allegedly incomplete signed budget are circulating online.

READ: Bersamin on 2025 budget: ‘There is no program with blank appropriations’

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However, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified in a statement on Monday that the circulating document was not part of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), but rather from the bicameral conference committee (Bicam) report.

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A Bicam report is the reconciled version of the House of Representatives (HOR) and Senate’s respective General Appropriations Bill (GAB). This bill then becomes the GAA, or the actual national budget, once signed by Marcos.

“The GAB, with all its details, is the controlling document and is presented to the President. Once signed, the GAB becomes law—the GAA,” the statement read.

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“To reiterate, the bill presented to and signed by the President is a complete document, with no blank pages or missing details. In no case does the Executive issue a GAA with blank pages or figures,” the DBM added.

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READ: Marcos denies ‘blank’ GAA items, says Duterte ‘lying’

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A quick search on the DBM website shows that the GAA signed by Marcos does not contain blank allocations.

“With this, we urge our fellow Filipinos to be mindful, cautious, and to first verify information before making any allegations. Clear and accurate understanding is critical for constructive dialogue,” the DBM said.

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“We kindly appeal to our kababayans to avoid spreading false information; communication is a powerful tool that can make or break a nation. Let us use it to promote unity and understanding, and not to sow discord, hatred, and division,” it added.

Steps prior to budget approval

The HOR and the Senate must first approve their respective versions of the GAB. They then each form a panel of lawmakers that constitutes the Bicam.

“The harmonized or ‘Bicam’ version of the GAB is then submitted back to both Houses [HOR and Senate], which vote to ratify the final GAB. Both Houses then submit or ‘enroll’ the ratified GAB to the President,” the DBM explained.

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Marcos may veto or set conditions for implementing certain items in the GAB. Budget legislation ends when he signs it into law.

TAGS: budget, DBM

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