28-07-2025
SONA 2025: Marcos 'willing' to operate on reenacted budget in 2026
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. made an unprecedented declaration that the government would operate under a reenacted budget in 2026, warning that he will veto a proposed budget bill that will not be in harmony with his administration's programs and priorities.
'For the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed Generation Appropriations bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP),' Marcos said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) Monday.
'Further, I am willing to do this even if we end up with a reenacted budget. 'Di ko aapribubahan ang kahit na anong budget na hindi alinsunod sa plano ng gobyerno para sa sambayanang Pilipino (I will not approve a budget that is not aligned with the government's plan for the Filipinos),' the President declared.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) defines a reenacted budget as a situation where the previous year's General Appropriations Act (GAA) is extended and remains in effect for a preceding year until such time the Congress passes a budget bill into law.
Early this month, Marcos approved the P6.793-trillion NEP for Fiscal Year 2026.
The 2026 NEP resulted from about P10.101 trillion budget proposals which was trimmed down due to limited fiscal space and the fiscal consolidation strategy, which targets gradually reducing the national government's deficit from 5.5% of GDP in 2025 to 4.3% by 2028.
The proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 budget was equivalent to 22.0 percent of GDP and higher by 7.4% from the fiscal year 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion.
The NEP will be submitted by the President to Congress within 30 days after the opening of the regular session.
The 2025 GAA had its fair share of criticisms amid claims of insertions made by legislators during the bicam for cash aid programs such as AKAP and TUPAD.
The President signed the P6.326-trillion GAA for 2025 in December 2024, but vetoed P194 billion worth of line items that are not consistent with his administration's priorities.
Marcos issued his threat to veto the 2026 budget bill after making a stern warning against government personnel who steal funds especially for flood control projects.
The President claimed that erring government officials are making a racket out of these projects by having 'kickback, initiative, errata, SOP, for the boys.'
'Kaya sa mga nakikipag-sabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino,' Marcos said.
(To those who collude to steal the country's funds and the Filipino people's future, shame on you.)
The country's Chief Executive ordered an audit and performance review of flood control 'to check, and make sure, and to know how your money was spent' as he warned that heads will roll and cases will be slapped against erring personnel and contractors.
'Kailangan malaman ng taumbayan ang buong katotohanan. Kailangang may maging managot sa naging pinsala at katiwalian,' Marcos said.
(The Filipino people should know the truth. Those responsible for the damage and irregularity should be held accountable.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
