Windows26: Weekend Roundup: Marcos signs 2025 budget, Jeju Air plane crash, Barbie Forteza, and more

Hi there, reader!

This week, we covered the Jeju Air plane crash, record-breaking Naia passenger volumes, the signing of the controversial P6.3-trillion 2025 national budget, plus the breakup of Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto.

This is your Weekend Roundup, your weekly fix for everything you need to catch up.

2025 NATIONAL BUDGET

Marcos signs budget

President Marcos finally signed the P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025 after striking out up to P194 billion in items that he claimed did not respond directly to the people's needs. Marcos said his veto over a number of line items in the proposed measure proved that the executive branch listened to the criticisms against the final version of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill.

However, critics warn that the budget is diverting funds from priority sectors that are key to inclusive growth and long-term resilience, such as education and public health. The private sector-led Philippine Business for Education said it was concerned about the "growing" amount of discretionary funds in the government's budget.

For Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, the vetoes of certain items in the 2025 budget did not correct flaws in the proposed General Appropriations Act and left "pork" largely intact. "The veto of unprogrammed activities is cosmetic, more than anything else, as unprogrammed activities and projects are not supported by programmed revenues," he said.

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition also said in a statement that the 2025 national budget did not meet its constitutional mandate by "unlawfully" including police, military, and local government academies in funding for the education sector. "[The government] lumped all the agencies together to achieve the minimum requirement. It's a token," its chairperson added.

INQFOCUS

COVID-19 after 5 years

Nearly five years after COVID-19 was first reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the disease continues to spread unpredictably and causes severe illness worldwide. Where are we now 5 years after? Cristina Eloisa Baclig explains in this special report.

INQFOCUS

Firecracker injuries

While most Filipinos end the celebration of New Year's Day with bliss, some don't, especially those who end up in hospitals with second or third degree burns, blown off limbs, or severed fingers. Kurt dela Peña explains how the rise in firecracker injuries highlights lessons never learned.

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