Senate approves P6.35T 2025 budget
THE Senate approved on Nov. 26 the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading, with 18 senators voting in favor and one abstaining. The government's proposed budget for 2025 is P6.352 trillion,10 percent higher than this year's P5.768 trillion. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III was the only senator who abstained from voting on the passage of the 2025 GAB. Committee on Finance Chairman Grace Poe said the increased funds focused on programs for education, AFP modernization, calamity fund, agriculture, housing, hiring additional personnel in the PAOCC, funds for the Asean Summit 2026, economic tourism, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and others. The final budget version includes the reduced OVP funding from P2.03 billion to P733 million. Meanwhile, the Senate removed the P39 billion allocation for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), mainly because no funds were allocated based on Malacañang's original proposal under the National Expenditure Program (NEP). Poe said the funding for OVP and AKAP would be determined by the bicameral conference committee. Poe described the budget as "the blueprint of our priorities and the heartbeat of our nation's future." She thanked colleagues and the staff who worked tirelessly, "burning the midnight oil on many occasions" to pass the budget on time. "This budget stands as a testament to our shared vision of a nation that prioritizes its people, a government that listens, and a Senate that delivers," Poe said. The Senate also formed a panel for the bicameral conference committee, with Poe as its chairman. The members of the panel are Senate President Francis Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, as well as Sens. Cynthia Villar, Ronald Dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Mark Villar and JV Ejercito.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Senate approved on Nov. 26 the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading, with 18 senators voting in favor and one abstaining.
The government's proposed budget for 2025 is P6.352 trillion,10 percent higher than this year's P5.768 trillion.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III was the only senator who abstained from voting on the passage of the 2025 GAB.
Committee on Finance Chairman Grace Poe said the increased funds focused on programs for education, AFP modernization, calamity fund, agriculture, housing, hiring additional personnel in the PAOCC, funds for the Asean Summit 2026, economic tourism, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and others.
The final budget version includes the reduced OVP funding from P2.03 billion to P733 million.
Meanwhile, the Senate removed the P39 billion allocation for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), mainly because no funds were allocated based on Malacañang's original proposal under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Poe said the funding for OVP and AKAP would be determined by the bicameral conference committee.
Poe described the budget as "the blueprint of our priorities and the heartbeat of our nation's future."
She thanked colleagues and the staff who worked tirelessly, "burning the midnight oil on many occasions" to pass the budget on time. "This budget stands as a testament to our shared vision of a nation that prioritizes its people, a government that listens, and a Senate that delivers," Poe said.
The Senate also formed a panel for the bicameral conference committee, with Poe as its chairman.
The members of the panel are Senate President Francis Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, as well as Sens. Cynthia Villar, Ronald Dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Mark Villar and JV Ejercito.
