President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the sectoral meeting on the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program at the Malacañan Palace in Manila, on June 18, 2024. Mike Alquinto, PPA Pool

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said lawmakers no longer have a hand in the proposed 2025 budget that they ratified and that has prompted criticisms over cuts to agencies providing social services.

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In a chance interview, Marcos Jr. shut down some House lawmakers' remarks that they are willing to reconvene the bicameral conference committee after the President hinted that he was unhappy with the budget cut to the Department of Education (DepEd). 

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"Hindi... Wala sa procedure ‘yan. There is no procedure to return it to the bicam. It’s finished already in the House, it’s finished already in the—it’s finished in Congress. Tapos na," he said.

The President said that the budget is now "up to us" in the executive branch.

"So, it’s up to us now to look at the items and to see what are appropriate, what are relevant, and what are the priorities," he said.

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Under the Constitution, the President can — and has in the past — veto "[a] particular item or items in an appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill" but cannot add to a bill that has already been enrolled for signature.

The President may also veto a bill entirely, which would mean restarting the legislative process for it.

Sen. Imee Marcos, the President's sister, on Thursday agreed that another bicam meeting would not be within procedure.

She said, however, that "time and again, it has occurred that the Executive has enjoined the Legislature to take a second look at their bicam report when it is unacceptable, perhaps unimplementable, or otherwise requires further study."

She also said that her brother may be getting bad advice on the national budget.

"Well, alam ko naman, kilala ko naman ang kapatid ko. Ang instinct niya, huwag makialam. Ayaw niya nanghihimasok, nanggugulo. Pero para sa akin, huwag naman pinapahamak yung aking kapatid. Palibasa mabait, hindi naman ibig sabihin kinakailangan samantalahin."

(I know my brother. He does not want to interfere or cause problems. But, for me, they shouldn't lead my brother astray. Just because he is kind, that doesn't mean they should take advantage of him)

BUDGET BILL TO BE SIGNED BEFORE YEAR ENDS

The Office of the President (OP) has postponed the scheduled signing of the proposed 2025 budget pending a more thorough review while also confirming that some items will be vetoed.

House leaders 'respect' Marcos office decision to postpone signing of 2025 budget

Amid the delay, Marcos Jr. said the budget bill will be signed into law before the year ends. Failure to enact a new budget law will mean a reenactment of the 2024 budget, which would leave new programs and projects unfunded in the meantime.

"I think we’ll be able to do it before the year ends," he said.

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they respect Marcos Jr.'s decision to defer the signing of the budget bill, calling it a sign of "healthy democracy."

Marcos says PhilHealth has enough funds despite zero subsidy

Many have raised concerns about budget cuts in the proposed General appropriations Act, including a P12-billion reduction in the DepEd’s 2025 budget and the removal of the subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. — with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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