The Senate Committee on Finance's subcommittee "M" approved on Tuesday the Proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program of the Department of Trade and Industry and its attached agencies, amounting to P7.909 billion.

Senator Mark Villar, who presided over the budget deliberation, hopes the DTI and its attached agencies will achieve its goals toward a more sustainable economy.

"As a chairperson of the Senate Committee on Trade, we will ensure that the budgets of the DTI and its attached agencies are sufficient and responsive in order to effectively implement their priority programs," he said.

Villar said the committee report will be deemed submitted to the Senate plenary. The proposed budget will be tackled during the chamber's plenary session which will resume on 6 November.