Marcos to spend holidays reviewing bicam-approved 2026 budgetPresident Bongbong Marcos delivers a speech during the signing of the 2025 natinoal budget at Malacañang on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — With only eight days left before the new year, will President Bongbong Marcos have enough time to scrutinize the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 national budget once it's ratified? In 2024, the 2025 national budget was ratified within hours since the bicam report was signed by the committee. With the public closely watching, the administration risks facing a court challenge if another budget marred by pork-like allocations and questionable insertions is passed. At the same time, if Marcos does not act on the budget before year-end, the government will have to operate under a reenacted budget until a new one is enacted.

Source: Philippine Star December 23, 2025 11:47 UTC