THE SENATE is looking into the possibility of approving the proposed 2019 budget in January if the House of Representatives intends to pass the measure by Nov. 28.
During the Senate session on Monday, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said a proposed Senate timetable was submitted to him by Senator Loren B. Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on finance, regarding the approval of the proposed budget.
He said Ms. Legarda was indisposed at the time of the session.
The proposed timetable, which has yet to be approved by the committee on finance and the whole Senate, targeted for the period of amendments on the proposed budget to be discussed on Dec. 17.
“Now that means, the approval on second reading will need an extension of a week and probably Dec. 19 and preparation for the bicameral conference will be after that. We are really looking at the possibility of a bicameral report in January and a reenacted budget at least for the first two weeks of January is not impossible ,” Mr. Sotto said.
The proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 was undergoing second reading by the House of Representatives on Oct. 3. The Small Committee was constituted in order to receive and resolve amendments from lawmakers following the bill’s second reading approval.
House appropriations vice chair Maria Camen Zamora said the chamber plans to pass the budget on third reading by Nov. 28.
This will give the Senate only two weeks or six session days to deliberate on the budget bill until it goes on break by Dec. 14.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on Monday proposed for the Senate to hold sessions from Monday to Friday in order to finish the deliberations of the proposed 2019 budget. But he later expressed doubts.
“Even that, I’m not sure, Senator Ralph (G. Recto) is explaining to me now, even that is not an assurance that we can get it out on third reading,” he said.
During the session, Senator Francis G. Escudero said it was impossible to pass the proposed 2019 budget within the year.
“It’s an impossible task, quite frankly speaking, even if we work from seven in the morning up to one in the morning the following day. It’s difficult to approve unless we extend session for at least one more week,” he said.
“But even with that, we can finish it. But I doubt if the bicameral conference committee can convene, agree, and make proposals, to vote on something before the year is over,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon suggested for the Senate to decide on its timetable once it receives the budget bill.
He also noted that the Senate should not rush the approval of the bill. He also saw no issue with passing the proposed budget in January.
“I don’t think the country will collapse if we cannot approve the budget in December. It’s better that we analyze it carefully, we approve it in January,” he said.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson maintained that a reenacted budget next year should not be viewed as the Senate’s fault.
“I dare say, it’s the all the fault of the Lower House,” citing insertions by members of that chamber “aka pork barrel allocations.” — Camille A. Aguinaldo
