Marcos seeks immediate passage of proposed 2025 budget

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent the passage of House Bill No. 10800 or the 2025 General Appropriation Act (GAA) to the Senate of the Philippines.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Francis Escudero dated October 29, Marcos certified the necessity of the enactment of the GAA, which provides for the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025.

This was “to ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical government functions, guarantee the allocation of fiscal resources for vital initiatives, and enable the government to adeptly respond to emerging challenges.”

The message was also furnished to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The proposed 2024 national budget is 9.5% higher compared to this year's P5.268 trillion.

The bill containing the national budget should be approved and signed by the President before the end of every fiscal year to avoid a reenacted budget for the following year. 

The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.352-trillion budget for 2025 on third and final reading on September 25.

A total of 285 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 10800, while three voted against it. 

The approval came a day after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. certified the measure as urgent.

A measure certified urgent by the President authorizes Congress to approve the said bill on second and third reading on the same day.

A month later, the House submitted its version of the General Appropriations BIll to the Senate.

The submission took place even as Metro Manila is under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

—VAL, GMA Integrated News