The House Committee on Appropriations is set to submit the P5.268 trillion proposed National Expenditure Program for 2023 next week to the plenary for sponsorship and floor debates, Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe revealed Saturday.
Dalipe said they want to ensure the swift approval of the government's national spending program for 2023 after ensuring the funds' judicious use.
He stressed that the panel worked fast to ensure the budget would be responsive and compliant with the spending requirements established by the Marcos administration.
"The House leadership is confident that the NEP will be adequately reviewed and scrutinized to ensure that the best interest of our people is protected. We will not allow any manipulation by any syndicate or by any group to favor certain groups or individuals," Dalipe said.
"We will scrutinize the budget and ensure the judicious allocation and use of our national budget," he said, stressing that House Speaker Martin Romualdez has sounded off against allowing budgetary shenanigans.
The NEP and all of its provisions shall be transparent and above-board, designed to uplift the people's lives, Dalipe said.
Romualdez has given the nod for the appropriations and rules committees to submit the NEP to the plenary for sponsorship.
Floor debates will begin Tuesday to cover the general principles and provisions of the budget measure as well as at least seven government agencies and constitutional bodies, according to Dalipe.
These are the Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Elections, Department of Science and Technology, and other executive offices such as the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Mindanao Development Authority.
Dalipe said the floor debates would last until 28 September as the House is determined to approve the measure on or before 30 September, the deadline they had set in approving the proposed national budget for 2023.
The lower chamber will begin its first recess in the 19th Congress on 30 September and will convene until over a month later, on 6 November.
