President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not yet sign the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA), which outlines the ₱6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, as submitted by the Legislative Department.
In an official statement on Wednesday, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin announced that the GAA will not be signed on December 20, explaining that the President requires "more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review."
"The ongoing assessment is being led by the President himself, in consultation with the heads of major departments," Bersamin said.
"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 No. 10800, which details the proposed ₱6.352-trillion budget for 2025.
Several senators criticized specific budget allocations, particularly the subsidies for various government agencies, such as PhilHealth receiving "zero subsidy" and the reduction of the Department of Education's budget.
The bicameral conference committee also retained the ₱733-million allocation for the Office of the Vice President.
Meanwhile, funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos at Kita Program (AKAP) was reduced to ₱26 billion from ₱39 billion.
