Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) — Congress targets to ratify the proposed 2024 budget bill before Dec. 10, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Thursday.
He said the Senate may approve on second and third readings the ₱5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill on Nov. 29.
\”Itong Martes…ang approval ng amendments. After we approve the amendments, we’ll move already to second and third reading, pinaka latest na po ay Wednesday next week,\” he said in a press briefing on the sidelines of the opening of the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. Speaker Martin Romualdez was also at the news conference.
[Translation: This coming Tuesday would be the approval of amendments. After we approve the amendments, we’ll move already to second and third reading, the latest we could do that is by Wednesday next week.]
\”Afterwards, we do the bicam. So ang tinitignan natin na pinakamatagal na ma-approve ito at ma-ratify ay before December 10,\” added Zubiri.
[Translation: Afterwards, we do the bicam. So we are looking to approve and ratify the budget, the latest would be before December 10.]
He also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could sign the budget either before or after his trip to Japan next month.
The proposed expenditure program is 9.5% higher than the current ₱ 5.268 trillion, with the education sector as top priority.
