The Marcos administration has begun 2026 operating under the reenacted 2025 budget, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues reviewing the P6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Bill received from Congress last week. Officials assure minimal disruption, echoing prior statements on the brief delay.
MANILA, Philippines — Following Malacañang's receipt of the ratified 2026 national budget on December 29 and the start of its review on December 30—as previously reported—the government entered 2026 without a new spending law, reverting to the 2025 appropriations.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto reiterated that the ongoing scrutiny ensures alignment with the National Expenditure Program, with signing expected in the first week of January. This marks the first reenacted budget under Marcos since 2022, last seen in 2019 under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Historical context includes Marcos' 2024 veto of P194 billion from the 2025 budget and his July 2025 State of the Nation Address pledge: “For the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed general appropriations bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP),” even risking reenactment.
The Makabayan bloc criticized the bill as pork-laden, citing P73.2 billion in local government unit allocations and P8 billion in military pork. Meanwhile, the Department of Education assured no impact on teachers or learners, with spokesperson Dennis Legaspi noting continued funding from the 2025 budget, including a P961.3-billion allocation. Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted 2025 achievements.
