PBBM to sign 2025 budget signed on 20 December — PCO

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the budget for 2025 next Friday, 20 December, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

PCO acting Secretary Cesar Chavez, however, clarified that the date is still tentative.

The proposed budget under the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is P6.352 trillion, which is higher than the P5.768 trillion 2024 national budget.

On Wednesday, the bicameral conference committee approved the final version of the 2025 national budget.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that the budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) remained “as is,” or P733 million.

The original proposed budget for the OVP was P2.037 billion, but the House of Representatives slashed the budget by P1.3 billion.

The OVP, under Vice President Sara Duterte, faced scrutiny over its alleged misuse of confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.

According to Duterte, this budget cut may affect 200 OVP personnel, including the operation of other services such as free bus rides and satellite offices.