Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace
December 30, 2024
“On this day that we honor our national hero, we enact the 2025 General Appropriations Act, and through this measure, the dreams of our heroes are realized by a nation birthed by their sacrifices,” stated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacañan Palace.
“This budget reflects our collective commitment to transforming economic gains into meaningful outcomes for every Filipino,” the President said in his speech, emphasizing that the 2025 National Budget builds on the gains of the first two (2) years of the Administration, focusing on creating the foundation for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient Philippines.
Republic Act (RA) No. 12116 titled ‘An Act Appropriating Funds for the Operation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines from January 1 to December 31, 2025,’ amounts to PhP6.326 trillion — slightly reduced from the PhP6.352 trillion total programmed appropriations in the enrolled FY 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). It has undergone careful and meticulous review to ensure alignment with the Administration’s objectives in achieving the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
“Cognizant that our resources are finite and our people’s needs are plenty. We need to carefully curate the particulars of the budget… We must exercise maximum prudence, otherwise we run the risk of increasing our deficit and debt and derailing our development agenda for our country,” President said.
The 2025 National Budget faced challenges during its passage, primarily due to significant changes by the Bicameral Committee. In response, President Marcos Jr. judiciously exercised his veto powers to over PhP194 billion worth of line items that are not consistent with the Administration’s programmed priorities. These include allocations for certain programs and projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and those under Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA).
To ensure strict compliance with legal standards, 12 Special Provisions were placed under Conditional Implementation. These provisions include critical programs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), such as the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“This way, we ensure that its implementation will be strategic, leading to the long-term improvement of the lives of qualified beneficiaries while guarding against misuse and duplication and fragmented benefits. This approach is anchored in a simple yet profound truth: the appropriation of public funds must not break the public trust,” he stated.
The Chief Executive also conveyed his gratitude to the public, saying, “Sa Sambayanang Pilipino, nakikinig po kami sa inyo. Salamat po sa inyong pagkilatis sa ating National Budget at sa pagpuna sa kaibahan ng isinumite ng Kongreso sa President’s proposed budget.”
With the signing of the 2025 National Budget into law, the Administration asserts its commitment to social services, education, health, infrastructure and agriculture, while prioritizing green investment and disaster preparedness to enhance resilience — reaffirming the its dedication to building a ‘Bagong Pilipinas.’
“Nation-building is not the work of government alone. It is a partnership that we make with every single Filipino with unity, with determination and a clear vision, we can achieve a future where progress is felt in every home, in every community, every corner of this archipelago,” he said in concluding his message.
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