House taps 14 members to reconcile nat’l budget provisions with Senate

The House of Representatives has designated 14 of its members to the bicameral conference committee to work with their Senate counterparts to reconcile the conflicting provisions in the proposed P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023.

At the plenary session on 21 November, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos moved to designate Committee on Appropriations chair Zaldy Co, appropriations panel senior vice chair Stella Quimbo, Deputy Speakers Ralph Recto and Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. and Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe.

Marcos, the President son, is also part of the committee.

Quezon Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez, Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, Agusan del Nort Rep. Jose "Joboy" Aquino II, and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon — the four other appropriations panel vice chairpersons — were also listed.

Committee on Accounts vice chair Eleandro Jesus Madrona and Committee on Ways and Means member Michael John Duavit are also members of the House contingent to the bicam on the General Appropriations Bill.

Minority Leader Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan and independent opposition solon Edcel Lagman round out the 14 members.

Gonzales, the plenary presiding officer, then carried the motion.

The bicameral conference committee is tasked to resolve conflicting provisions in the budget versions of the Senate and the House.

The committee will then submit a report on the reconciled version, which both chambers have approved.

The House approved the 2023 budget on 28 September, 37 days after the executive branch submitted the appropriations request to the chamber.

The Senate, on the other hand, eyes passing the national budget this week after concluding plenary debates on the GAB on 25 November.