DBM defends Marcos Jr., denies ghost items in 2025 national budget
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has issued a statement firmly denying allegations that the president signed blank pages in the 2025 national budget.
Following the accusations directed towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the DBM asserted in a Jan. 20 statement that these are “completely false and reckless.”
Former president Rodrigo Duterte recently claimed that President Marcos intentionally left certain pages of the 2025 national budget blank, similar to a blank check.
“First, allow us to categorically deny the spreading accusations,” the DBM said in the second line of the statement, describing these allegations as “malicious and irresponsible.”
The agency clarified that “what has been presented by certain misinformed individuals are pages from the Bicameral Conference (Bicam) Committee Report,” not the proposed budget nor the approved one.
“It is important to note that, under the 1987 Constitution, it is the Bill— the GAB [General Appropriations Bill], and not the Bicam Report, that is officially submitted for the consideration, and approval or veto of the President,” the DBM stressed.
According to DBM, the GAB is complete with its details when submitted to the President, and once signed, it becomes law as the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
It reiterated that the submitted and signed by the president is a “complete document, with no blank pages or missing details.” It assured that the president does not practice issuing a national budget containing blank items.
“With this, we urge our fellow Filipinos to be mindful, cautious, and to first verify information before making any allegations. Clear and accurate understanding is critical for constructive dialogue,” the DBM said.
It further appealed to the Filipinos to “avoid spreading false information,” asserting that “communication is a powerful tool that can make or break a nation.”
The president signed the 2025 national budget three weeks ago, reducing the initial P6.352 trillion proposal to P6.326 trillion by vetoing P194 billion in line items that did not align with the administration’s priorities.