Ched Rick Gatchalian

Lawmakers, government leaders, and diplomats listen to the fourth annual State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Palace says Congress should not abuse ‘power of the purse’

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175403415139720250801080832_c0d5c268518fb4ec3d33560b1793cf9584b374082f8f0d1d335742d58e35d327.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Lawmakers, government leaders, and diplomats listen to the fourth annual State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</p><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang said Friday that Congress should not abuse its &quot;power of the purse&quot; following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s warning to lawmakers in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he would not sign into law a national budget that was &quot;misaligned&quot; with his administration&#x27;s programs.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/28/marcos-warns-i-won-t-sign-budget-misaligned-with-gov-t-plans-1831">Marcos warns: I won&#x27;t sign budget &#x27;misaligned&#x27; with gov&#x27;t plans</a></div><p>This comes after Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero said Congress is not a “rubber stamp” of the executive branch and asserted that the legislative body has the &quot;power of the purse.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/30/escudero-asserts-congress-budget-power-after-marcos-warning-in-sona-1105?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawL5T_lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFJVHJDU2NDRTQxOURLckV0AR40DbCp85YXuGuFmet6UZ6ipWWg51Y3EmtnJjwu8lckurhtsXOXq1AqIJZUgQ_aem_tbmiZrMnF8Up8emnNKR72w">&#x27;No rubber stamp&#x27;: Escudero asserts Congress&#x27; budget power after Marcos warning in SONA</a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that the National Expenditure Program, the proposed budget prepared by the executive department, is being crafted thoroughly based on the needs of the people.</p><p>“Unang-una po, pinaghihirapan po na makagawa ng budget para sa National Expenditure Program. Ito ay inaaral, katulad nung binanggit po ni Secretary Amenah Pangandaman na hindi po ito biro-biro. Sa pagsasagawa po nito, iniisa-isa po ito kasama ang Pangulo at lahat ng Cabinet secretaries,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/marcos-gov-t-to-propose-p6-793-trillion-budget-for-2026-1403">Marcos approves proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026</a></div><p>“At kung anuman po ang nabuo dito, ibig sabihin po, iyan po ang dapat na paglalaanan ng pondo. Hindi po dapat abusuhin iyong sinasabing power of the purse at maraming magkaroon kung mayroon man insertions at hindi mapapakinabangan na tunay ng taumbayan,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRANSPARENCY PUSH</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Castro emphasized that Marcos only wants transparency in the budget, noting that the chief executive himself wants the bicameral conference committee for the P6.793 trillion 2026 budget to be made public.</p><p>“Kaya gusto niya maging malinis ang budget at hangga&#x27;t maaari iyong bicam conference with regard to the conference dito sa 2026 budget ay bukas sa publiko,” she stated.</p><p>When asked if Marcos would veto a budget with anomalous congressional insertions from the bicam, Castro said it depends on the nature and purpose of the insertions.</p><p>“Depende po iyan sa pag-aaral. Kung ang mga insertion na ito ay masasabi naman po natin na may kabuluhan, malamang po ay hindi ma-veto, pero kapag nakita po nila na wala naman po itong pupuntahan at maaaring madala lamang sa pang-aabuso, hindi po mag-aatubili ang Pangulo na ito ay i-veto,” she explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2024/11/26/infra-spending-hits-p1-14-trillion-in-first-nine-months-budget-dept-1033">Infra spending hits P1.14 trillion in first nine months: Budget dept</a></div><p>Marcos last year delayed signing the 2025 national budget and then vetoed over P194 billion line items &quot;that are not consistent to our program priorities.&quot;</p><p>Castro also asserted that the President considered the potential consequences of a reenacted budget when he made the warning.</p><p>“Alam po niya iyan, kaya po niya sinabi. Pero malamang magsasakripisyo po iyan para lamang po makita ng taumbayan na hindi dapat abusuhin ang pondo ng bayan.</p><p>Castro further assured that the 2026 National Expenditure Program will be submitted to Congress “on time.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/marcos-gov-t-to-propose-p6-793-trillion-budget-for-2026-1403">Marcos approves proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026</a></div><p>The Constitution mandates the President to submit to the Congress within 30 days from the opening of every regular session a budget of expenditures and sources of financing including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures as the basis of the general appropriation bill (GAB).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bsi2dDPYMwk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VDLlsqWittU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Palace asserted that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. considered the potential consequences of a reenacted budget when he made the warning during his SONA. </p>

The Palace asserted that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. considered the potential consequences of a reenacted budget when he made the warning during his SONA.

As budget season looms, Palace asks Congress not to abuse 'power of the purse'

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As budget season looms, Palace asks Congress not to abuse 'power of the purse'

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 01, 2025 03:58 PM PHT

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