Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will stay in Malacañang on New Year’s Day and will not travel for the holidays, as he continues to review the proposed 2026 national budget, the Palace said.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president will welcome the New Year at the Palace with his family and loved ones.
“Ang Pangulo ay narito lamang at walang pagbibiyahe na magaganap. Kasama niyang sasalubungin ang Bagong Taon ang kanyang pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay,” Castro said.
[Translation: The President will stay here and will not travel. He will welcome the New Year with his family and loved ones.]
The president’s decision comes as Malacañang confirmed that Marcos is foregoing the holiday break to ensure a thorough review of the proposed 2026 spending plan.
Earlier, the Palace said Marcos has ordered a close scrutiny of the final version of the bicameral conference committee report to prevent a reenacted budget in 2026. Acting Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the president has directed his team to carefully examine all provisions and funding changes introduced by lawmakers.
“As early as now, the president is already mobilizing his team to facilitate the immediate review of all amounts and corresponding provisions agreed in the bi-cam and trace the changes made from the originally submitted National Expenditure Program,” Gomez said in a statement.
“This thorough review will ensure that taxpayers’ money will be put to good use, contributing to the attainment of societal goals that will be felt by all Filipinos, consistent with his pronouncement in the last State of the Nation Address,” he added.
Malacañang reiterated that Marcos is determined to avoid a reenacted budget, a scenario in which the previous year’s spending plan is carried over because a new budget is not enacted on time, resulting in the delay of new programs and projects.
