Marcos to sign P5.768-T 2024 budget before Christmas Day

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Friday that he would sign the P5.768-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2024 before Christmas Day.

''Malamang, oo. (Probably, yes) But, you should really ask the bicam to see what their schedule is. But yes, I think before Christmas,'' Marcos told reporters when asked if he would sign the budget before Christmas.

Marcos said he is still waiting for the bicameral report on the 2024 national budget. He said he is expecting it to reach his office in the coming days.

The President is bound for Japan this afternoon for the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

''Wala pa yatang report ang bicam. (I think the bicam has no report yet) We're waiting for that. So, they’re putting the finishing touches on it. Baka (Maybe) today or the day --- in the coming days. But certainly, the minute it is finalized then we will immediately, of course, pass the budget,'' Marcos said.

''We have been going through the consultations through the whole of the year for that matter and I would be very surprised if there are other issues that will suddenly arise that we hadn't anticipated or hadn’t resolved, put it that way. So, I don’t see any problem to that,'' he added.

On December 11, the bicameral conference committee approved and adopted the final version of the bill containing the P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024.

Senate finance committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara said that the consolidated version of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) has no allocated confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for non-security agencies.

Of the total proposed budget, Angara said at least P9 billion or 0.02% was allocated for CIF in 2024. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News