Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed three provisions of the 2023 national budget. Those clauses have nothing to do with the new funding and could change other laws, according to the spokesperson’s office.
One of the clauses Marcos opposed was in the Department of Education’s TV-Based Education Initiative. One was the creation of a revolving fund for his DepEd TV. A spokesperson explained that there is no law that would allow DepEd to establish such a fund, and DepEd TV said he is not a business activity eligible for a revolving fund under the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2023.
Marcos also rejected a provision prohibiting the Ministry of Tourism from using its budget to change the country’s tourism slogan, as it would limit the executive branch’s ability to implement Republic Act No. 9593, also known as the Tourism Act of 2009.
Marcos also opposed provisions allowing the National Labor Relations Commission to use its revenues for business because existing law does not allow it. He pointed out that it was already included as part of the revenue and funding sources in the proposed budget.
Despite vetoing those provisions, Marcos signed the budget bill into law last Friday, calling it a “great Christmas present” from Congress and praising the budget’s swift passage.
