THE Philippine Senate on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, approved the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2025, paving the way for the government’s expenditure plan for the next fiscal year.
The budget, amounting to P6.352 trillion, represents a 10 percent increase from the current year’s budget of P5.768 trillion.
Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, who spearheaded the budget deliberations, described the GAB as “the blueprint of our priorities and the heartbeat of our nation’s future.” She emphasized that the budget is not simply a collection of numbers, but a reflection of the government’s commitment to the Filipino people.
Poe expressed gratitude to her colleagues and the staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the budget’s timely passage. “We burned the midnight oil on many occasions to ensure that this budget is passed on time,” she said. “This budget stands as a testament to our shared vision of a nation that prioritizes its people, a government that listens, and a Senate that delivers.”
The GAB, which was certified urgent by the President, was passed on second and final reading without any amendments from senators. The budget now moves to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being sent to the President for final approval.
