MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has delayed the signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act to allow for a more thorough review of the proposed PhP6.352-trillion national budget, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced on Wednesday.
“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.
Bersamin said that President Marcos was directly leading the evaluation process in consultation with the heads of key government departments.
A new signing date has not been set.
“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 said.
The bicameral conference committee approved the final version of House Bill No. 10800, which outlines the 2025 budget, on December 11.
Some lawmakers, including Senator Imee Marcos, the chief executive’s sister and Senator Chiz Escudero, have called for a detailed scrutiny of the budget following the reduced budget in the country’s state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Department of Education.
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Republika News 
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