President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to veto some items and provisions of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) “in the interest of public welfare, to conform with the fiscal program, and in compliance with laws,” Malacañang said Wednesday.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued the statement amid the uproar on the reduced budgets of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
“The scheduled signing of the General Appropriations Act on December 20 will not push through to allow more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review of a measure that will determine the course of the nation for the next year,” Bersamin said in a statement.
He said Marcos is personally leading the ongoing assessment of the proposed 2025 budget, “in consultation with the heads of major departments.”
“While we cannot yet announce the date of the signing, we can now 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,” he added.
On December 11, the bicameral conference committee approved the final version of House Bill 10800, or the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for next year.
Some lawmakers, including the President’s older sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, have appealed for a thorough review of the proposed 2025 budget.
Senator Marcos expressed her willingness to work through the holidays to address any issues surrounding specific items in the national outlay.
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