Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured the public that the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 will be carefully reviewed and signed before the end of the year, Malacañang said Friday, Dec. 19, even as lawmakers finalize the measure close to the deadline.
The Palace said the president is prepared to forgo the holiday break to scrutinize the proposed General Appropriations Bill and make sure it aligns with administration priorities and remains people-centered.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said Marcos is determined to complete a detailed review in the tight timeline.
“Noong una talaga ay inaasahan ng pangulo na mas maaga ang pagsa-submit ang kopya ng enrolled bill. Sa pagkakataong ito, pipilitin ng Pangulo … na maaral mabuti at mapirmahan ang 2026 national budget bago magtapos ang taon,” Castro said.
[Translation: From the start, the president really expected the enrolled bill to be submitted earlier. This time, the president will exert all efforts to thoroughly study and sign the 2026 national budget before the end of the year.]
She said Marcos would not rush the process at the expense of accountability.
“Pero ang tinitiyak ng pangulo ay aralin, matutukan, mabusisi ang nasabing enrolled bill at matiyak na ang mga nakalagay dito ay naaayon sa prayoridad ng administrasyon—isang malinis, makatao at nakatuon para sa taumbayan,” Castro said.
[Translation: The president wants to make sure that the enrolled bill will be studied, closely monitored, and thoroughly scrutinized, and that its provisions are aligned with the administration’s priorities – clean, humane, and focused on the people.]
Castro said the president is willing to work continuously to complete the review.
“Kung hindi magkakaroon ng tulugan, walang tulugan, gagawin po ‘yan. … bago siya pumirma, dapat naaral po itong mabuti, nabusisi at kung may kailangang i-veto, ibi-veto,” she added.
[Translation: If it means no sleep, then there will be no sleep. … Before he signs, it must be thoroughly studied and scrutinized, and if there is anything that needs to be vetoed, it will be vetoed.]
She said the executive branch would conduct its own independent review, even as Congress maintains that the budget is clean and free of corruption.
“Kung sinasabi po ng Kongreso na napag-aralan itong mabuti, aaralin pa rin po ito ng Pangulo at titiyakin po ng Pangulo sa publiko na ito ay isang makatao at maayos na national budget,” Castro said.
[Translation: Even if Congress says it has been thoroughly studied, the President will still review it and assure the public that it is a humane and sound national budget.]
The bicameral conference committee is scheduled to approve the clean copy of the budget bill on Dec. 28, and both chambers of Congress to ratify the same on Dec. 29 before transmitting the enrolled bill to Malacañang for the president’s signature.
