General Appropriations Act of 2025

General Appropriations Act of 2025
House of Representatives
  • An Act appropriating funds for the operation of the government of the Republic of the Philippines from January one to December thirty one, two thousand and twenty five
CitationRepublic Act No. 12116
Territorial extentPhilippines
Enacted byHouse of Representatives
EnactedSeptember 25, 2024
Enacted bySenate
EnactedNovember 26, 2024
Signed byPresident Bongbong Marcos
SignedDecember 30, 2024
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Representatives
Bill titleSame title as final law
Committee responsibleAppropriations
Voting summary
  • 285 voted for
  • 3 voted against
Second chamber: Senate
Received from the House of RepresentativesOctober 24, 2024
Member(s) in chargeGrace Poe
Committee responsibleFinance
Voting summary
  • 18 voted for
  • None voted against
  • 1 abstained
Final stages
Reported from conference committeeDecember 11, 2024
Voting summary
  • 15 voted for
  • 2 voted against

The General Appropriations Act of 2025, officially designated as Republic Act No. 12116, is a Philippine law that provides the national budget for the year 2025. Signed into law by President Bongbong Marcos on December 30, 2024, its provisions include ₱1 trillion funding for both the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the removal of all government subsidies for PhilHealth amounting to ₱74 billion, and a ₱50 billion reduction to the poverty alleviation program 4Ps.[1][2] The act has been criticized for its potentially unconstitutional provisions, with economist Cielo Magno deeming the initial ratified bill to be "the most corrupt budget in history".[3][4][5]

Several members of the bicameral conference committee did not sign the bicameral report, while two senators, Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel, voted against the ratification of the budget bill.[6][7] In response to the criticism, President Marcos made line-item vetoes to provisions related to flood control projects (amounting to ₱16.7 billion) prior to signing the bill.[8]

Legislative history

Submission of the NEP to the House of Representatives

On July 29, 2024, the Department of Budget and Management submitted its proposed ₱6.352 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for fiscal year 2025, previously signed by President Bongbong Marcos, to the House of Representatives.[9][10]

House Appropriations Committee

Small Committee

Members of the
Small Committee
Position Member Constituency Party
Chairperson Zaldy Co Partylist Ako Bicol
Senior Vice Chairperson Stella Quimbo Marikina–2nd Lakas
Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe Zamboanga City–2nd Lakas
Minority Leader Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan Partylist 4Ps

Bicameral conference committee

Conferees of the
Bicameral Conference Committee
House Party Senate Party
Zaldy Co Ako Bicol Grace Poe Independent
Jude Acidre Tingog Pia Cayetano Nacionalista
Romeo Acop NUP Ronald Dela Rosa PDP
Jose "Joboy" Aquino II Lakas JV Ejercito NPC
Jil Bongalon Ako Bicol Francis Escudero NPC
Mannix Dalipe Lakas Jinggoy Estrada PMP
Jack Duavit NPC Win Gatchalian NPC
Neptali Gonzales II NUP Bong Go PDP
Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. Lakas Risa Hontiveros Akbayan
Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan 4Ps Loren Legarda NPC
Eleandro "Budoy" Madrona Nacionalista Imee Marcos Nacionalista
Stella Quimbo Lakas Koko Pimentel Nacionalista
David "Jay-Jay" Suarez Lakas Francis Tolentino PFP
Joel Villanueva Independent
Cynthia Villar Nacionalista
Mark Villar Nacionalista
Juan Miguel Zubiri Independent

References

  1. ^ Cabato, Luisa (December 30, 2024). "DepEd, DPWH get highest 2025 budget allocation". Inquirer.net. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  2. ^ Punongbayan, JC (December 27, 2024). "[In This Economy] Breaking down Marcos' 2025 budget dilemma". Rappler. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  3. ^ "Marcos postpones 2025 budget signing as groups decry DepEd, PhilHealth fund cuts". Rappler. Manila, Philippines. December 18, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Soto, Abel D. (April 4, 2025). "What is wrong with the 2025 GAA?". SunStar. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Punongbayan, JC (December 20, 2024). "[In This Economy] Why the 2025 budget is a big 'f*ck you' to the Filipino people". Rappler. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Cruz, RG (December 11, 2024). "Congress finalizes 2025 budget". ABS-CBN News. Manila. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  7. ^ "Editorial: Bigger problems in 2025 budget". Inquirer.net. January 27, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Panti, Llanesca T. (December 31, 2024). "Marcos removes P16.7B worth of flood control projects in 2025 budget". GMA News Online. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  9. ^ Abarca, Charie (July 29, 2024). "DBM turns over to Senate the proposed nat'l budget for 2025". Inquirer.net. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "2025 National Expenditure Program". BusinessWorld Online. July 30, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2025.