MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the 2026 national budget into law on the "first week of January," Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday. Recto said Malacañang would need time to go over the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. "It will be better for everyone that Malacañang review the budget carefully. It may take a week to go over the budget with a fine-tooth comb," Recto said. "A reenacted budget for a week will not affect government operations. A careful review of the budget will improve its execution," he added. Marcos was initially expected to sign the spending plan on Dec. 29, but there were delays in the bicameral conference committee’s proceedings as lawmakers needed more time to scrutinize the national budget.