The Reform Veto: Strategic Use of Presidential Veto Power to Pass Landmark Laws

This paper introduces the “Reform Veto Doctrine”, a bold strategy that calls on the President to use their constitutional veto power over the national budget as leverage to secure the passage of long-delayed democratic reforms in the Philippines. Specifically, it recommends conditioning the approval of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) on the enactment of three landmark laws: the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law, the Anti-Political Dynasty Law, and the institutionalization of Open Government Mechanisms. These critical reforms, repeatedly blocked by entrenched political interests, can be unlocked through strategic use of the presidential veto, transforming budget approval into a moment of democratic accountability.