P6.352-TRILLION 2025 NATIONAL BUDGET APPROVED BY BICAM, MARCOS TO SIGN ON DEC. 20

Lawmakers have approved the P6.352 trillion national budget for next year, to be signed by the President before Christmas (Photo courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The bicameral conference committee have amended, approved and ratified the final version of House Bill No. 10800 or the proposed PHP6.352 trillion 2025 national budget. The 2025 General Appropriation Bill (GAB) is likely to be sign by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on December 20, 2024.

According to Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez the President will sign the GAB which contains the national budget plan for fiscal year 2025, before Christmas, but the date is still tentative. 

A bicameral conference committee, composed of eight members of the Senate and 16 members of the House of Representatives, is reconciling the conflicting provisions of the House and Senate versions of the bill.

In September, President Marcos expressed hope that the 2025 budget would be enacted before Christmas.

“I commend both houses of the 19th Congress for their display of unity in collaborating and pushing our key priority bills forward. I am counting on your continued support in passing the 2025 national budget with our agenda for prosperity in mind, before Christmas,” Marcos said

The proposed 2025 national budget is 9.5% higher compared to this year's P5.268 trillion. Under the approved budget, the Senate has retained the House-introduced budget cut on Office of the Vice President, from the initially proposed P2 billion to P733 million.  

While the allocation for the Ayuda para sa Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP) was reduced to PHP26 billion from PHP39 billion. Priorities for the measure include social services, health, education, jobs, technology, infrastructure, and human development.

Source: Philippine News Agency 

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