P6.326-T na 2025 National Budget, pinirmahan na ni PBBM | Balitanghali

Summary

President Bongbong Marcos has signed the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which includes a national budget of 6.36 trillion pesos—6 billion pesos less than the Congress-approved 6.52 trillion. The budget excludes over 4 billion pesos allocated for non-priority government projects, such as certain programs under the Department of Public Works and Highways. Additionally, funding for the AKAP program will continue but requires guidelines from DSWD, DOLE, and NEDA to ensure proper use and prevent misuse of funds.

Takeaways

• 😀 President Bongbong Marcos has signed the General Appropriations Act, approving the 2025 National Budget.
• 😀 The approved national budget for 2025 is ₱6.36 trillion, which is ₱6 billion lower than the ₱6.52 trillion initially approved by Congress.
• 😀 The reduction in the budget was mainly due to the removal of over ₱4 billion in funding for non-priority government programs.
• 😀 Some of the projects affected by the budget cut include certain initiatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
• 😀 The budget also saw cuts to some unprogrammed appropriations, which are funds without clear sources of revenue.
• 😀 Despite the cuts, the government will continue providing aid through the AKAP (Assistance to the Countries in Need) program.
• 😀 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will issue guidelines before releasing aid funds to avoid misuse.
• 😀 The focus on creating clear guidelines aims to ensure that funds are used effectively and for their intended purposes.
• 😀 The administration's efforts are aimed at preventing the misuse of public funds in the distribution of financial aid.
• 😀 The government's approach prioritizes ensuring that aid reaches those in genuine need, with strong monitoring and accountability measures in place.

Q & A

What is the 2025 national budget signed by President Bongbong Marcos?

The 2025 national budget signed by President Bongbong Marcos is 6.36 trillion pesos, which is 6 billion pesos lower than the 6.52 trillion pesos approved by Congress.

Why is the 2025 national budget lower than the Congress-approved version?

The budget is lower because President Marcos removed over 4 billion pesos allocated for programs that are not priorities of the government, such as some projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and unprogrammed appropriations.

What is meant by 'unprogrammed appropriations' in the context of the national budget?

Unprogrammed appropriations refer to programs or allocations that do not yet have a clear source of funding and are contingent on future revenues or adjustments.

Which programs will continue despite the budget cuts?

Despite the budget cuts, programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (Akap) will continue.

What condition is set for the release of funds for programs like Akap?

The release of funds for programs like Akap will only happen once the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) provide the necessary guidelines to ensure that there is no misuse or misallocation of the funds.

Who needs to issue guidelines before the release of funds for the Akap program?

The DSWD, DOLE, and NEDA are responsible for issuing guidelines before the funds for the Akap program can be released.

Why is the government focusing on controlling the misuse of funds?

The government wants to ensure that the funds are used properly and efficiently, particularly for social programs like Akap, to avoid any potential corruption or mismanagement of public money.

How does the national budget affect the government's funding for infrastructure projects?

The national budget includes allocations for infrastructure projects; however, in this case, some projects by the DPWH were reduced or removed from the final budget because they were deemed non-priority by the President.

What are some examples of programs that were deemed non-priority in the budget?

Programs considered non-priority in the budget include certain infrastructure projects by the DPWH and some unprogrammed appropriations, which are subject to future funding adjustments.

What is the total value of the 2025 national budget after the cuts?

After the cuts, the total value of the 2025 national budget is 6.36 trillion pesos.