Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III abstained from voting on the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025, adopting a “wait-and-see” approach.
Pimentel voiced his objection to what he called a “very unnecessary” certification for a bill that the Senate processes annually. He questioned the certification issued by Malacañang, which declared the bill as urgent, arguing that there is no emergency justifying this designation.
“However, I agree with the President that all agencies must ensure that every centavo allocated is judiciously spent on urgent priorities and socially impactful programs. It is imperative to monitor developments during the bicameral conference committee,” he stated.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved House Bill No. 10800, or the proposed General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which allocates P6.352 trillion for the national expenditure in fiscal year 2025. The bill received 18 affirmative votes, with no dissenting votes.
The budget was approved on both second and third readings within a single day, as it was certified as urgent by President Marcos.
The proposed budget aims to address critical sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure, while ensuring funding for priority programs identified by the administration.
The government’s proposed 2025 budget represents a 10 percent increase from this year’s budget of P5.768 trillion.
Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, described the budget as “the blueprint of our priorities and the heartbeat of our nation’s future,” emphasizing that it is not merely a series of numbers in a spreadsheet.
She expressed her gratitude to her colleagues and staff who worked tirelessly, often late into the night, to pass the budget on time.
“This budget stands as a testament to our shared vision of a nation that prioritizes its people, a government that listens, and a Senate that delivers,” Poe remarked.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada noted that the allocations for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will only be finalized during the bicameral conference committee meeting.
The Committee on Finance had previously adopted the House of Representatives’ version of the budget, which includes a P1.3 billion reduction in the OVP’s 2025 allocation, bringing it to only P733 million.
