AFTER thorough review and scrutiny, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the 2025 national budget on Monday.
The 2025 national budget, initially amounting to PhP6.352 trillion was reduced to PhP6.326 trillion following the veto of PhP194 billion worth of line items deemed inconsistent with the administration’s priority programs.
The signing, originally scheduled before Christmas, was postponed to allow for an extensive review of the budget’s provisions following calls of several sectors to scrutinize its particulars.
“While the final version of the budget reflects many of our shared priorities, some provisions required careful scrutiny. The Filipino people have spoken: every centavo must go to programs that truly uplift lives, strengthen communities, secure the future development of the Philippines,” President Marcos said.
“We take our role as stewards of our taxpayers’ money seriously. And for this reason, after an exhaustive and thorough review, we have directly vetoed over PhP194 billion worth of the line items that are not consistent with our programmed priorities,” he added.
Of the PhP194-billion, President Marcos vetoed PhP26.065 billion worth of projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and PhP168.240 billion allocated under “Unprogrammed Appropriations.”
President Marcos also pursued Conditional Implementation on specific items to ensure funds are utilized effectively, emphasizing that the government must not be merely a provisional solution, but address long-term issues.
The Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) will be implemented in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“This way we ensure that its implementation will be strategic leading to the long-term improvement of the lives of qualified beneficiaries, while guarding against misuse, and duplication, and fragmented benefits,” President Marcos said.
“This approach is anchored on a simple yet profound truth: the appropriation of public funds must not break the public trust,” he added.
The President assured the commitment of the government of prudent fiscal management, ensuring all budget increases and new appropriations undergo cash programming, compliance with budget execution rules, and approval by concerned offices.
The President explained this approach guarantees the programs and projects are properly implemented and redound to the benefit of the Filipino people.
“Makakaasa naman po kayo na sa budget na ito, ipagpapatuloy at papalawigin pa natin ang ating serbisyo sa inyo, alinsunod sa ating Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” President Marcos said.
Before concluding his speech, President Marcos reiterated the government’s prioritization of social services, particularly education and health, alongside economic services, infrastructure and agriculture, among others.
