Marcos vows to review 2025 budget insertions

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

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.

“The insertions were not part of the budget request. What will happen? Are they really needed? Maybe some of them are not necessary. They can be deferred. We are starting to see some project proposals that do not have the appropriate program of work, no appropriate documentation. It was not clear where the money would go. These are the things we need to clarify,” he pointed out.

Marcos also ruled out the possibility of returning the proposed national budget to Congress. “It’s finished in Congress.... So, it’s up to us now to look at the items and to see what are appropriate, what are relevant, and what are the priorities,” the Chief Executive said.

Last minute changes in the budget program, including the slashing of 12 billion from the outlay of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the alleged bloating of the funding for public works, have stirred a controversy.

In an earlier interview, Marcos vowed to find a way to restore the DepEd budget cuts and to scrutinize the infrastructure projects included in the appropriations bill.

‘Very bad budget’

His sister Sen. Imee Marcos called the 2025 budget program “bad,” and warned her brother against signing it.

Speaking at Kapihan sa Senado forum, she also said the President must be wary of people advising him to fix the budget by vetoing the controversial line items.

Instead, she said, the President should return the budget to Congress bicameral conference committee to restore the cuts on health and education, such as the zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the reduction in the education sector budget.

“This is a very bad budget. I am appealing to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that they don’t get my brother into trouble and force him to sign something questionable. This cannot be solved by a simple line veto,” the senator said.

Calling the latest version of the general appropriations bill an “election budget” because it would be implemented ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, she said funding for many projects is up to the discretion of lawmakers. Such projects include the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) Program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s “various infrastructure projects.”

Senator Marcos also flagged as unconstitutional the P1.113-trillion DPWH budget that exceeded the overall P925 billion budget for basic, higher, and technical vocation education. The 1987 Constitution states that education should receive the highest budget among government offices.

She also flagged DPWH’s “various infrastructure projects” that she claimed were reserved for “VIP” politicians. Marcos also criticized an alleged “for later release” practice at the Department of Budget and Management, which she claimed, is prone to corruption.

“I’m in a state of confusion and abject ignorance as to who is responsible for all this. We were not consulted on these drastic changes. This is a big shame and will only cause trouble in 2025. People will be begging from politicians for help with this budget,” she said.

‘Ayuda’ defended

Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez defended the allotment by the House of Representatives of financial assistance to several key agencies under the executive department, saying these are all covered with “receipts” and with “legitimate beneficiaries.”

In his address Wednesday night before Congress went on a Christmas break, the House leader clarified these funds have been earmarked for the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Labor and Employment and Health.

“To those who are against ayuda, this administration is more than willing to show where all these funds went – and we can all account for them up to the last centavo. The funds are handled by the DSWD, DOLE and DOH. They all run the program – not Congress,” he said.

“All of these programs have legitimate beneficiaries, legitimate receipts, and no notices of disallowance from the Commission on Audit. The mandate of Congress is to ensure that all these funds trickle down directly to where it has been allocated for,” he declared.

“This is what governance means – not merely passing laws but ensuring that these laws translate into hope and dignity for every Filipino family,” he told his House colleagues.

“To those who doubted the importance of social safety nets, let this be a reminder: ayuda is not charity; it is justice. It is our duty to ensure that no Filipino falls through the cracks, especially in times of crisis,” he emphasized.

“The extent of the fund’s misuse and the clear absence of accountability shown through fabricated documents, falsified liquidation reports, and spurious ARs (acknowledgement receipts) reveal how some shameless individuals blatantly disregard the rule of law and betray public trust,” Romualdez said, apparently referring to Vice President Sara Duterte, under investigation by the House committee on good governance and public accountability for misuse of her confidential funds. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Delon Porcalla