Bicam eyes budget ratification next week
The target ratification of the bicameral report on the General Appropriations Bill is in line with Congress’ schedule of its submission to the Office of the President before Christmas.
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The target ratification of the bicameral report on the General Appropriations Bill is in line with Congress’ schedule of its submission to the Office of the President before Christmas.
Congress eyes to finish the ratification of its Bicameral Conference Committee report for the proposed P5.268 trillion national budget for next year by next week, Senator Sonny Angara said Friday.
"Hopefully by next week but usually it is hard to predict. Hopefully next week we can finish it," Angara said in an interview after the bicameral panel kicked off its deliberations to reconcile the disagreeing provisions in their respective budget versions.
"Usually the ratification, if not (on) the same day of the signing, maybe next week or the following week we can finish it," he added.
The target ratification of the bicameral report on the General Appropriations Bill is in line with Congress' schedule of its submission to the Office of the President before Christmas.
House Committee on Appropriations chairperson and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co assured the passage of the spending measure before Christmas.
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"Both Congress and the Senate adopted the Medium-term Fiscal Framework before the budget deliberations. Ito ang magiging guide post namin sa pag-finalize ng budget (This will be our guidepost in finalizing the budget)," Co said in a statement.
The bicameral panel convened at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City to harmonize the disagreeing provisions of the 2023 national budget.
"In the end, the final version will be one that best supports the President's 8-point socio-economic agenda. We envision the final version as a budget that creates jobs, keeps the macroeconomy stable, and helps keep inflation within a manageable range," he added.
P215-B worth of increases
Meanwhile, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo announced that Congress has realigned P215 billion worth of allocations under the proposed P5.26 trillion budget for 2023.
Despite the disagreeing provisions in their respective budget versions, Quimbo expressed her confidence that it will be resolved easily by Congress.
"I think it will be resolved easily by the Senate and House because for the first time we adopt the Medium Term Fiscal Framework which contains the eight-point economic agenda of our president," said Quimbo, vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations.
"It will be the guiding posts of the House and Senate and in the end, we will be able to pass the best version fitted for the agenda," she added.
No funds for Senior Citizens' social pension
Meanwhile, Angara assured the smooth implementation of Republic Act 11916 which seeks to increase the monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.
"We have a big funding for it under the programmed funds. It was just placed under the unprogrammed funds in the measure as additional funding for the monthly pension of senior citizens," he said.
The senator explained that the funding for the law was not included in the National Expenditures Program since the measure was legislated in August.
The House leadership assigned the following lawmakers as the chamber's contingent to the bicam conference: Co, Quimbo, Reps. Ralph Recto, Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Mannix Dalipe, Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos, Jay-Jay Suarez, Neptali Gonzales II, Joboy Aquino II, Raul Angelo Bongalon, Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Michael John Duavit, Marcelino Libanan and Edcel Lagman.
For the Senate, members of the bicam are Angara, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, Win Gatchalian, Bato Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, JV Ejercito, Alan Cayetano, Chiz Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada.
