House, Senate ratify bicam 2023 nat’l budget report

The House of Representatives has ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the proposed P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Bill or national budget for 2023, just hours after the bicam panel reconciled its disagreeing provisions. 

Speaker Martin Romualdez, who presided over the plenary, announced Monday night that the bicam report was formally ratified via voice vote.

Congress' ratification of the bicam report clears the way for the enrolled copy of the 2023 GAB to be transmitted to Malacañang for the Chief Executive's signature for its enactment.

Meanwhile, the Senate also ratified General Appropriations Bill for 2023 in its own plenary session.

Only Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros voted against the passage of the spending measure.

Both chambers previously committed to passing the Marcos administration's 2023 spending plan before its Christmas recess on Dec. 17 to avoid a reenacted budget or adopting the 2022 General Appropriations Act for next year's expenditures. (With reports from Jom Garner)