Bongbong Marcos at Odds w/ Martin Romualdez over Budget Adjustments without Clear Explanations

Pres. Bongbong Marcos Speaks on Some Adjustments in 2025 National Budget

BONGBONG MARCOS – The Philippine President is at odds with his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, over some adjustments in the 2025 national budget.

The lawmakers of the Senate and the House of Representatives recently met to discuss the national budget for the year 2025. There were some decisions made by the lawmakers that stirred countless reports and different reactions from the people.

Bongbong Marcos
Photo Credit: Manila Standard

Many people were shocked when Senate Finance Committee chairwoman Senator Grace Poe announced that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth will be denied of a government subsidy in 2025. The lawmakers want the state health insurer to use their reserve funds.

PhilHealth intended to write a letter to Pres. Bongbong Marcos to appeal the decision of the lawmakers following the Bicameral Conference Committee session. However, the Chief Executive stood by the decision of the lawmakers. Marcos Jr. stressed that PhilHealth has enough funds.

Bongbong Marcos' Office
Photo from Bombo Radyo News

However, while Pres. Bongbong Marcos stands by the decision of the lawmakers over giving PhilHealth a zero subsidy, the Chief Executive finds some adjustments in the 2025 national budget without clear explanations. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, he is at odds with his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, over the issue.

Martin Romualdez
Photo Courtesy of Inquirer

Marcos Jr. did not hesitate to reveal that he and his team found some project proposals without the appropriate program of work and documentation as well as a clear path of where the funds will go.

“We are starting to see some project proposals that do not have the appropriate program of work… Walang appropriate documentation, hindi maliwanag kung saan pupunta ang pera. Kaya’t iyon ang liliwanagin natin,” the President said.

Previously, House Speaker Martin Romualdez stressed that all the programs have documentation and beneficiaries. He also asserted that there is no notice of disallowance from the Commission on Audit (COA).

Amid the speculations and calls that the 2025 national budget be returned to the Bicam, the Palace stressed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos has decided not to return the national budget to congress anymore. Based on the report, he stressed that it went through a procedure and returning it is not part of the process.

“It’s up to us now to look at the items and to see what are appropriate, what are relevant, and what are the priorities,” the President said.

Many of the lawmakers have already returned to their home provinces for the holidays and to prepare for the upcoming 2025 elections. As for Pres. Bongbong Marcos, he plans a quiet holiday break with the First Lady.

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