By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
THE SENATE is targeting to approve the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 on third and final reading by Jan. 16, paving the way for a possible reenacted budget in January next year.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri sent a copy to reporters a timetable of the Senate’s budget approval that was agreed upon by senators during an all-member caucus on Monday.
The House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 8169 or the proposed 2019 Fiscal Year General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading last Nov. 20.
The Senate on Monday formally referred the House bill to the Senate committee on finance.
The document indicated that the Senate committee on finance, chaired by Senator Loren B. Legarda, will be filing her committee report on the proposed budget for plenary approval between Dec. 4 and 5.
Interpellation will be scheduled on December 5 to 12, Mr. Zubiri told reporters. Congress ends its session on Dec. 14 for the Christmas break.
When Congress resumes session on Jan. 14, the Senate will open the period of committee individual amendments on the proposed budget. By Jan. 16, the measure will be approved for third and final reading.
The bicameral conference committee will be convened during Jan. 18 to 23 to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of the proposed budget.
The following week, the bicameral conference committee report is expected to be ratified, by Jan. 29
On Feb. 7, the proposed budget will be signed by congressional leaders before transmitting it to the President for his signature.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III has said the senators are expected to scrutinize the proposed budgets of the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Senators have also said the chamber will not have enough time to examine the spending plan for questionable insertions before Congress adjourns on Dec. 14.

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