BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
After signing the 6.3 trillion pesos budget for the 2025 national budget, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered agencies to review and assess the programs in the National Expenditure Program.
According to the President, he wants to know what happened with the budgets for 2024, particularly for critical projects.
He is ready to meet with each agency to ensure that the government’s actual spending programs align with the NEP.
The President also noted that there were several issues, such as a 12 billion pesos reduction in the budget for road maintenance.
A 500 million pesos cut for the regular maintenance of bridges and a 21 billion pesos reduction for DPWH project feasibility studies.
However, some are calling for more focus on other aspects that will benefit the daily lives of citizens.
The 2025 National Expenditure Program is 9.7% higher than the 2024 budget, which amounted to only 5.7 trillion pesos.