The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for vetoing appropriations in the national budget for 2025 that are not responsive to Filipinos’ needs.
NEDA chief Arsenio Balisacan praised President Marcos for judiciously vetoing certain line items in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for next year.
He also commended the President for setting specific conditions for implementing certain programs and projects under the GAA, such as requiring the issuance of guidelines and compliance with pertinent laws, policies, and standard regulations.
According to him, the President’s decisive actions “demonstrate the administration’s commitment to a fiscal program by ensuring that planned spending remains within the target deficit ceiling, keeping us on track to meet our medium-term fiscal targets.”
After thoroughly reviewing and scrutinizing the GAA for 2025, President Marcos signed the national budget on Monday.
The budget, initially amounting to PhP6.352 trillion, was reduced to PhP6.326 trillion following the veto of PhP194 billion worth of line items deemed “inconsistent with the administration’s priority programs.”
Of the vetoed PhP194-billion, the President directly vetoed PhP26.065 billion worth of projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and PhP168.240 billion allocated under “Unprogrammed Appropriations.”
He also pursued Conditional Implementation on specific items to ensure funds are utilized effectively, emphasizing that government must not be merely a provisional solution, but address long-term issues.
Balisacan expressed his full support for the newly-signed national budget.
“The 2025 GAA supports the goals outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, including attaining our medium-term goal targets as approved by the Development Budget Coordination Committee,” he said.
“The budget prioritizes strategic investments in social services with substantial allocations to education, health, and social welfare programs, and infrastructure projects to boost our growth,” he added.
These investments, he said, are crucial for achieving the PDP targets related to human capital development and poverty reduction in line with the Marcos administration’s commitment to public welfare and fiscal responsibility. | PND
