Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his statement on his State Visit to India and answers questions on pressing issues during the Kapihan with the Media at the Taj West End in Bengaluru, India, on August 8, 2025, before returning to the Philippines.  Noel Pabalate, PPA pool

Article (news)

MARCOS

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — There will be “no Christmas break” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the executive department will push for passage of the 2026 national budget before yearend, Malacañang said on Friday.</p><p>The rush comes days after Congress announced it intends to ratify next year’s spending bill on December 29, which is just two days before the current national budget expires.</p><p>Failure to sign the budget bill by then would mean a reenacted budget that would include funding for projects that may have already been completed.</p><p>“Noong una po talaga ay inaasahan ng Pangulo na mas maaga ang pag-susubmit ng enrolled bill,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing.</p><p>(The president initially hoped the enrolled bill would be submitted earlier)</p><p>“Pipilitin po ng Pangulo na maaral ng mabuti at mapirmahan ang 2026 national budget bago mag-tapos ang taon,&quot; she also said.</p><p>(He will do his best to review and sign the 2026 national budget before the year ends)</p><p>Marcos Jr. and his staff will scrutinize the budget bill to make sure it will be &quot;clean and will benefit the people&quot;, Castro also said.</p><p>“Para sa Pangulo, hindi dapat magkaroon ng Christmas break para maaral ito,” he said.</p><p>(For the president, there should be no Christmas break because we have to study this)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/18/house-lawmakers-slam-pork-in-bicam-approved-2026-budget-1713">House lawmakers slam &#x27;pork,&#x27; unprogrammed appropriations in bicam-approved 2026 budget</a></div><p>Marcos Jr. is expected to spend the holidays in the Philippines, and will likely call on several Cabinet secretaries should there be issues or concerns about the General Appropriations Bill, Castro said.</p><p>“[A]ng sinisiguro ng Pangulo ay aaralin mabuti ito… Kung may dapat i-veto ay ive-veto ng Pangulo,” she said.</p><p>(The president assures the public that the budget bill will be reviewed throughly and that he will veto items that should be vetoed)</p><p>She added Marcos Jr. and his staff will go without sleep if needed to enact the budget in time.</p><p>The Bicameral Conference Committee had approved the final version of the spending bill earlier this week, saying that it will be ratified and submitted for the president’s signature on December 29.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/17/2026-budget-bicam-extends-to-four-days-as-deadline-looms-0829">2026 budget bicam extends to four days as deadline looms</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69okrxZgLwo?si=K7Uu_An1vNYkP9Sg" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>There will be “no Christmas break” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the executive department will push for passage of the 2026 national budget before yearend, Malacañang said on Friday.</p>

There will be “no Christmas break” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the executive department will push for passage of the 2026 national budget before yearend, Malacañang said on Friday.

Palace: Marcos Jr., staff to work on 2026 budget through Christmas break

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Palace: Marcos Jr., staff to work on 2026 budget through Christmas break

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2025 01:16 PM PHT

Read More:

2026 Genaral Appropriations Act

2026 budget

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Christmas 2026

Malacañang

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