President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened with key members of his Cabinet, including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, to scrutinize the proposed 2025 national budget. The meeting, held just before Christmas, aimed to ensure the budget aligns with the nation’s developmental goals. Malacañang confirmed that there have been no discussions about a potential reenactment of the budget for 2025, emphasizing a thorough review of the PHP6.352-trillion spending plan. The budget document was received by the Palace late on December 20, and President Marcos expressed his intention to sign the bill before the year ends. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez noted that during the meetings he attended, the topic of a reenacted budget was never brought up. Last week, Marcos highlighted his concerns over certain aspects of the budget, particularly a PHP10-billion reduction in the Department of Education’s allocation, which he aims to address. Additionally, he justified the absence of subsidies for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in the next year’s budget, pointing to the corporation’s substantial PHP500 billion reserve as a sign of its financial health.
President Marcos Jr. and Cabinet Review 2025 Budget, No Talk of Reenactment
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