President Marcos is bent on restoring the proposed 2025 national budget to its original shape before signing it before the end of the year as there were many changes from the initial request.

Marcos said this following budget cuts and increases in several government agencies in the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget.

In an interview in Pasay City on Thursday morning, Dec. 19, the President said they are working on getting the 2025 budget back to its original shape.

"We had to have a look because maraming nagbago (there were many changes) from the budget request of the different departments and we have to put it back in the same shape that we had first requested," he said.

"Unfortunately, we are only now, I am only left now with the veto power because tapos na sa bicam (the bicameral committee is done with it). Now, it’s up to us how we regain control of the spending program," he added.

On Wednesday, Marcos convened Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to review the 2025 national budget, ensuring alignment with key development priorities.

According to the Chief Executive, they were going through every item and every line "to see what is priority and what is not."

"I want to be very very sure that the budget for 2025 is directed at the important projects that we have prioritized, number one. And, secondly, that there [are] stronger safeguards on spending for the different projects," he said.

Marcos said they were checking if there were projects inserted that were not part of the initial budget request.

"We are starting to see some project proposals that do not have the appropriate program of work. Walang appropriate na documentation, hindi maliwanag kung saan pupunta ang pera. Kaya’t yun ang liliwanagin natin (They don't have the proper documentation and it's not clear where the money would go. That is what we're clarifying)," he said.

"Kailangan maging maingat na maingat tayo kasi yung ginagastos diyan... meron diyan utang 'yan. Kaya’t kailangan mapunta sa tama para mabayaran natin yung utang (We have to be very careful because the money we're spending, some of them are loans. We have to ensure that they are spent right so we can pay our debt)," he added.

With this, President Marcos said he would strive to sign the budget law before the year ended.

"We were originally scheduled to sign it into law, the GAA (General Appropriations Act), tomorrow, 20th, pero mukhang hindi kami matatapos pa at that time (we won't make it on time). So I cannot give you a date because it would take as long as it would take," he said.

"I think we will be able to do it before the New Year," he added.

Early this week, President Marcos defended the significant increase in the proposed budget of the DPWH, saying the government must spend for the safety of the people. The proposed DPWH budget has bloated to P1.113 trillion from the initial P900 billion after the bicameral conference committee meeting.

On the other hand, the President said they are working to restore the P10-billion cut in the proposed budget for the DepEd. He said the budget cut contradicted his administration's policy direction regarding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).