President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to sign the ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget in the first week of January, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday, signaling Malacañang’s preference for careful review over haste.
Recto confirmed the timeline in a text message to reporters, easing speculation that the President would rush to sign the General Appropriations Act before year-end.
The announcement follows Congress’ plan to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on December 29, just a day before lawmakers adjourn, leaving limited time for review if signing occurred in 2025.
Rather than rubber-stamp the spending plan, Marcos is opting for a deeper review to ensure that budget allocations reflect policy priorities and deliver real impact, particularly amid concerns over delays, budget insertions, and program efficiency.
Malacañang earlier said the President had already directed his economic managers and legal teams to prepare for immediate vetting of the bicam-approved budget, even during the holidays.
The administration remains keen on avoiding a reenacted budget, which could stall government operations and infrastructure rollouts, but has made clear that speed will not come at the expense of accountability.