By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other department heads to review the 2025 national budget.
The meeting included officials from the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), “President Marcos Jr. conferred with the Executive Secretary, the Economic Cluster (DOF, DBM, and NEDA), and the Secretary of Public Works and Highways while reviewing the proposed national budget for next year.”
“The printed copy of the spending measure was only received late Friday afternoon. President Marcos Jr. hopes to act on the measure before the year ends,” the PCO added.
Bersamin earlier stated that the President plans to veto certain parts of the 2025 national budget.
He explained that the veto is meant “to allow more time for a rigorous and exhaustive review of a measure that will determine the course of the nation for the next year.”
“The ongoing assessment is being led by the President himself, in consultation with the heads of major departments.”
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