TACLOBAN CITY – A week before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) and the resumption of session, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez assured on Sunday, July 14 that the House of Representatives is committed to passing the 2025 national budget, remaining Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority bills, and possible additional key Sona measures.
“The House (of Representatives) is ready to take swift and decisive action to ensure these legislative priorities are met, paving the way for sustained development and progress under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos,” Speaker Romualdez said in statement.
He mentioned that Congress awaits the executive branch’s proposed P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will form the basis for the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), and aims to pass it before the end of September.
The Speaker emphasized that the swift and timely passage of next year’s national budget is a top priority.
“The 2025 national budget is essential for sustaining our nation’s growth and addressing the immediate needs of our citizens, and the House is ready to ensure its swift approval to support our development and progress,” he added.
“We are ready and determined to work hard to pass the 2025 GAB before we go on break at the end of September. We will ensure the timely transmission of the spending bill to the Senate for their consideration as well,” the Leyte solon further said.
The 2025 national budget, which represents a 10 percent increase from this year’s P5.768-trillion allocation, is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
In addition to the 2025 national budget, Speaker Romualdez said the House of Representatives is ready to pass all the President’s priority measures during the remaining session days of the 19th Congress.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
