THE SENATE on Wednesday, Sept. 27, received from the House of Representatives House Bill No. 6215 or the 2018 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), Senator Loren B. Legarda said in a statement.

Ms. Legarda, who heads the Senate committee on finance, said she is ready to sponsor next week the 2018 GAB proposing a P3.767-trillion national budget, following the submission of subcommittee reports this week.

“Upon submission of the subcommittee reports of my vice chairpersons, we will file and sponsor the committee report next week and we will conduct marathon sessions so we can finish the budget interpellations of all agencies before session adjourns on October 12 for a one-month break,” Ms. Legarda said in her statement.

The senator anticipates that the Senate will be able to approve the GAB on second and third reading upon resumption of session in November, to be followed by the bicameral conference committee.

“We aim to submit the 2018 GAB to the President on the second week of December and, hopefully, enacted way ahead before Christmas. This way, agencies would have time to plan the execution of approved projects and programs before the holidays. Hopefully, this would help in the early disbursement of funds and a more efficient obligation,” Ms. Legarda said.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR