President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured the public that the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 will be carefully reviewed and signed before the end of the year, Malacañang said Friday, December 19, even as lawmakers finalize the measure close to the deadline.
The Palace said the president is prepared to forgo the holiday break to scrutinize the General Appropriations Bill and ensure it aligns with administration priorities and remains people-centered.
“Noong una talaga ay inaasahan ng pangulo na mas maaga ang pagsa-submit ang kopya ng enrolled bill. Sa pagkakataong ito, pipilitin ng Pangulo … na maaral mabuti at mapirmahan ang 2026 national budget bago magtapos ang taon,” PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
She emphasized that Marcos will not rush the process at the expense of accountability.
“Pero ang tinitiyak ng pangulo ay aralin, matutukan, mabusisi ang nasabing enrolled bill at matiyak na ang mga nakalagay dito ay naaayon sa prayoridad ng administrasyon—isang malinis, makatao at nakatuon para sa taumbayan,” Castro added.
The president is willing to work continuously to complete the review.
“Kung hindi magkakaroon ng tulugan, walang tulugan, gagawin po ‘yan. … bago siya pumirma, dapat naaral po itong mabuti, nabusisi at kung may kailangang i-veto, ibi-veto,” she said.
Castro noted that the executive branch would conduct its own independent review, even as Congress maintains the budget is clean and free of corruption.
“Kung sinasabi po ng Kongreso na napag-aralan itong mabuti, aaralin pa rin po ito ng Pangulo at titiyakin po ng Pangulo sa publiko na ito ay isang makatao at maayos na national budget,” she said.
The bicameral conference committee is scheduled to approve the clean copy on December 28, with both chambers ratifying the bill on December 29 before sending it to Malacañang for Marcos’ signature.