Zubiri hopes possible unconstitutional items addressed before 2025 budget bill signing

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday reiterated the need to address the possibly unconstitutional provisions in the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signs it on December 30.

"I'm hoping that they address the concerns of the education sector, especially the funding of the computerization of the [Department of Education], and the possible unconstitutionality of the education sector no longer being the priority of the budget allocation as well as the zero funding for PhilHealth," Zubiri said in a Viber message.

"That would help stave off possible legal action in the Supreme Court that might render a decision declaring the budget unconstitutional and therefore delay its implementation and effectivity," he added.

Zubiri said he would not attend the signing of the 2025 budget bill because he is out of the country.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also said he would not attend the ceremonial signing because of "previous commitments."

On Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Office announced that Marcos will sign the P6.352-trillion proposed national budget for next year on December 30, despite calls from some senators to recall the ratified GAB so that lawmakers can amend it to avoid a possible challenge of constitutionality.

Zubiri and Senator Imee Marcos, the president's sister, first floated this idea as they lamented the budget cuts in the education sector, zero subsidy for PhilHealth, and higher allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways compared to the education sector.

Article XIV, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "[t]he State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education."

President Marcos was supposed to sign the 2025 national budget on December 20.

However, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it did not push through to allow for a rigorous and exhaustive review of the measure.

Bersamin had said that Marcos was consulting with the heads of major departments on the budget. —VBL, GMA Integrated News