SC orders Congress, Malacañang to submit 2025 GAA copies by Feb 24

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Senate, the House of Representatives, and Malacañang to submit by February 24 the original copies of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and its enrolled bill for oral arguments.

This directive follows a petition challenging the GAA's validity, which alleges unconstitutionality due to issues such as failing to allocate mandatory funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and unlawfully increasing appropriations beyond the President's recommendations.

Other alleged irregularities include allocating the highest budget to public works instead of education and supposed blank items in the bicameral conference committee report.

The SC will conduct a preliminary conference on February 28, with only two counsels allowed per party.

Oral arguments on the petition are scheduled for April 1 at the SC Baguio Compound.

The petitioners include Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, among others.