President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday held a special meeting with his Cabinet to discuss the proposed 2023 budget, Malacañang announced.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be holding a special Cabinet meeting today, July 29, to discuss the 2023 budget,” the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.

State-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) also released a short video clip of Marcos’ meeting with his Cabinet.

The meeting was held at Malacañan Palace’s Aguinaldo State Dining Room, RTVM said.

Malacañang has yet to provide additional details about the meeting.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said her office aims to pass on time the proposed PHP5.268 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2023.

The proposed national budget for 2023 is 4.9 percent higher than this year’s PHP5.024 trillion national budget.

Pangandaman said Marcos wants to stick to the timeline and pass the proposed budget before December this year.

Sectors that will receive the biggest funding in the 2023 budget plan include education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture, Pangandaman said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the NEP should be submitted to Congress within 30 days after the opening of the regular session of Congress, which coincides with the delivery of the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Constitution provides that the SONA must be held every fourth Monday of July.

Marcos’ first SONA was held on July 25. (PNA)