THE signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is a pivotal step toward achieving the medium-term goals outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
In a press conference at Malacañang Palace in Manila following the signing ceremony on Monday, Dec. 30, Balisacan emphasized that the national budget will support efforts to drive human capital development and reduce poverty.
“The budget prioritizes strategic investments in social services with substantial allocations to education, health and social welfare programs and infrastructure projects to boost growth and inclusion. These investments are crucial for achieving the PDP’s targets related to human capital development and poverty reduction,” he added.
Balisacan pointed out that the fiscal discipline demonstrated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who exercised his veto power to remove certain line items from the budget, is part of the administration’s broader commitment to fiscal responsibility and ensuring that government spending remains within the target deficit ceiling.
In his speech after the enactment of next year’s national budget, President Marcos said he vetoed over P194 billion worth of line items, in consultation with his Cabinet members, as some of the programs were not consistent with the administration’s priority programs.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto also said some of the programs in the GAA passed by Congress were ambiguous, such as the 300-percent increase in the unprogrammed appropriations which was not initially in the National Expenditure Program.
Balisacan said that 2025 is a critical year for the country, entering the midterm of the Marcos administration.
“This milestone is an opportune time to assess our progress. As we continuously recalibrate our strategies, we assure our fellow Filipinos that we will sustain our gains and accelerate our efforts in areas where we need to catch up to meet our development targets,” he said. (PNA)
