President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 during the first week of January, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto confirmed Wednesday.
The announcement clarifies the Malacañang timeline following questions regarding whether the spending measure would be enacted before the year ends.
The 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is designed to fund the administration’s priority infrastructure projects, social services, and key government programs.
To facilitate the approval process, Congress adjusted its legislative calendar to allow for the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on Dec. 29—just one day before the legislative adjournment on Dec. 30.
While the revised schedule left little room for a year-end signing, Palace officials emphasized that the President intends to conduct a “careful and comprehensive review” of the budget.
Malacañang has already mobilized its economic and legal teams to begin analyzing the bicameral-approved version immediately upon its transmission to the Office of the President.
The administration has reiterated its commitment to avoiding a reenacted budget, which would force the government to operate on the previous year’s funding levels and potentially delay the rollout of new 2026 projects.
By signing the measure in the first week of January, the government aims to ensure a seamless transition of funding for the start of the new fiscal year.