Senators on Wednesday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to defer the signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) highlighted the significance of checks and balances in the legislative process.

Senate President Francis Escudero said the postponement of the signing “reflects the constitutional prerogatives” of the Executive Branch, which includes reviewing and making line-item vetoes in the proposed budget.

Escudero stated that Marcos’ move is part of the legislative process and the system of checks and balances under the Philippine Constitution.

“The Executive is well within its rights and prerogatives to review, study, and make line-item vetoes—as is usually done every year with the General Appropriations Bill—especially given its length, complexity, and detail,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe echoed Escudero’s sentiments, describing the review as a “hallmark of a healthy democracy.”

“We have to support the checks and balances of our budgetary process. The President has the authority to assess the budget and approve or veto the proposed GAA,” she said.

Poe believes that Marcos’ economic managers “are giving the President the best advice possible given the situation.”

She also emphasized the GAA’s vital role in shaping the nation’s economic future, describing it as the “most important piece of legislation” to ensure economic stability and foster GDP growth in 2025.

Malacañang has pushed back the target signing date for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) to give Marcos “more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review” of the measure.