Marcos to scrutinize budget despite limited time, Palace ensures

Malacañang on Friday ensured that despite the limited time, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. would thoroughly study the proposed national budget before he signs it into law. 

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the President was expecting that he would receive the enrolled budget bill at an earlier time.

Castro said Marcos would ensure that the budget for next year would be aligned with the priorities of the administration and that it would be people-centered.

''Noong una po talaga ay inaasahan ng Pangulo na mas maaga ang pagsa-submit ang kopya ng enrolled bill. Sa pagkakataong ito, pipilitin po ng Pangulo, pipilitin po na maaral mabuti at mapirmahan po ang 2026 national budget bago magtapos po ang taon,'' Castro said.

(The President was really expecting that the budget bill would be submitted to him at an earlier time. At this time, the President will scrutinize the bill and intends to sign this before the year ends.)

''Pero ang tinitiyak po 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 ang mga bills na ‘to or rather ang mga probisyon dito para sa taumbayan,'' she added.

(The President ensures that this would be studied and scrutinized to guarantee that everything is aligned with the priorities of the administration, and that it is people-centered.)

'No holidays'

Castro said the Executive branch would have no holidays as Marcos intends to sign the budget bill into law before the year ends.

''Sa Pangulo po, hindi po kailangang magkaroon ng Christmas break, kailangan po talagang aralin ito at pipilitin na mapirmahan po ito bago magtapos ang taon,'' Castro said.

(For the President, he doesn't need to have a Christmas break as the budget bill needs to be studied and he is intending to sign it before the year ends.)

She said officials from the Department of Budget and Management as well as some Cabinet secretaries could be summoned in scrutinizing the proposed budget.

Earlier, Senate finance committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said both the Senate and House of Representatives aim to ratify the P6.7-trillion spending bill on December 29, which is a week later than the initial December 22 target.

Gatchalian said the re-adjusted timeline, which is in consultation with House appropriations panel chairperson Representative Mika Suansing, also took into consideration the Noche Buena and Christmas Day. 

They aim to transmit the ratified budget proposal to the Office of the President in the afternoon of December 29, he said. 

Gatchalian and Suansing are confident the President will not veto any item in the proposed national budget. 

“Throughout the whole process, very, very close coordination with us and the executive,” Suansing said. 

The bicameral conference panel would also inform the respective agencies of adjustments in their budget, she added. 

“So yes, we are confident that the President will not veto the budget." —VAL,/RSJ GMA Integrated News