Marcos vows to review 2025 budget insertions

Citing items that are unclear or without appropriate documentation, President Marcos yesterday vowed to look into what he described as "insertions" in the proposed 2025 national budget to ensure that safeguards are in place and priority programs are given enough funding.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Marcos said it would be up to the executive branch to "regain control of the spending program," noting that he is left with just his veto power since lawmakers are done with their deliberations on the P6.352-trillion budget for next year.

"We had to have a look because there were many changes from the budget requests from the different departments, and we have to put it back in the same shape that we had first requested. So, unfortunately, I am only left now with the veto power because the bicam is over. The House has approved it. The Senate has approved it," the President told reporters in an interview at Villamor Air Base.

"Now, it's up to us on how we regain control of the spending program, and I cannot give you the details yet. That is what we are doing. We're going through item by item, line by line to see what is priority and what is not. That's what we will come up with," he added.

Marcos said he could not say when the spending bill would be signed into law, as he needed to clarify some items. The enactment of the 2025 budget was supposed to be held today but was postponed pending a review by economic managers.

Nevertheless, the President remains optimistic that the spending bill would be signed within the year.

"I cannot give you a date because it will take as long as it would take but I want to be very, very sure that the budget for 2025 is directed at the important projects that we have prioritized, number one,” he said.

“And secondly, that there (are) stronger safeguards on the spending for the different programs, so we might have to assess the projects that were inserted, the insertions,” Marcos said.