President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened his economic Cabinet secretaries on Monday to further review the proposed national budget for 2025.

Marcos met with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan. They were joined by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The meeting came amid the significant scrutiny of the proposed budget, which amounts to P6.352 trillion.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the printed copy of the spending bill was received by Malacañang only last Friday, delaying the review process. The delay led the President to postpone the signing of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which was initially scheduled for 20 December.

The review of the 2025 budget is essential to ensure that it meets the government’s priorities and addresses key issues facing the country next year.

One of the bigger controversies surrounding the budget was the removal of the subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which has been widely criticized.

At the same time, the Department of Education (DepEd) saw a reduction of P10 billion in its budget.

President Marcos has pledged to restore the cuts in the DepEd’s budget, emphasizing that education is a top priority of his administration. He expressed confidence a resolution will be reached soon in support of the education sector.

On the issue of PhilHealth, Marcos defended the zero-budget allocation, asserting that the state health insurer currently has sufficient funds to provide services and expand its offerings. He reassured the public that there is no immediate need for additional financial support for PhilHealth in the coming year.

The controversy surrounding the 2025 national budget has garnered attention as it is essential to government operations and development plans.

Without an approved budget, government services and projects could face delays, potentially affecting critical programs and initiatives.

Marcos aims to sign the budget before the end of the year to avoid any disruptions in government functions in 2025.

Meanwhile, PCO acting Secretary Cesar Chavez clarified that there has been no discussion about a potential reenactment of the 2024 budget if the 2025 GAB fails to pass.

“In the two meetings I attended with them, there was no mention of that,” Chavez told reporters.

According to the Department of Budget and Management, if the GAB fails to pass Congress, the previous General Appropriations Act would automatically be reenacted and remain in effect until the new budget is approved.