MANILA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has approved a 6.352 trillion pesos (roughly 107.97 billion U.S. dollars) proposed national budget for 2025, 10.1 percent higher than the budget for 2024, the Department of Budget and Management said on Tuesday.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the budget, equivalent to 22 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
"We have crafted this carefully and meticulously to ensure that we stay on track with our economic growth targets while ensuring no one is left behind," she added.
Under the proposed budget, the agencies getting the lion's share of government appropriations include education, public works, health, interior and local government, and defense, according to the Presidential Communications Office.
The government will submit the proposed budget to Congress for further deliberations before it becomes a bill. ■
