President Marcos is expected to sign the 2025 national budget before Christmas this year.
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 25, House Speaker Martin Romualdez stated that it is the goal after Marcos certified as urgent the passage of the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget.
"Opo, yun po talaga ang hangarin na po natin para merong maligayang pasko, hindi lang para sa administrasyon pero para sa taumbayan, na meron tayong isang national budget for progress, prosperity and development para sa buong sambayanang Pilipinas.(Yes, that is the goal so that we can have a merry Christmas, not just for the administration but for the people, that we have a national budget for progress, prosperity, and development for the Filipino nation)," Romualdez said when asked if the President is expected to approve the budget before the Christmas season.
The House Speaker said with Marcos certifying the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) as an urgent measure, they are compelled to pass the bill on the second and third reading on the same day.
He expressed confidence that the GAB will be transmitted to the Senate after passing it on Wednesday night.
"Mamayang gabi po maipapasa natin 'yan on third and final reading and ready for transmission in short order to the Senate. Ito ang pinakaimportanteng batas na hinaharap natin sa Kongreso at mataas ang kumpiyansa ko na ito ay matatapos natin ito ngayong gabi dahil sa pagka-certify ng Malacañang. Urgent po itong batas na ito, kaya't that will be done (We will pass it on third and final reading tonight and will be ready for transmission in short order to the Senate. This is the most important measure we are facing now in the Congress and I am confident that we will be able to finish it tonight. This was certified as urgent by Malacanang, so that will be done)," Romualdez said.
Marcos convened the 6th Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on the priority Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) and other important matters on Wednesday morning.
The President on Tuesday certified the proposed national budget as urgent.