By Ellson Quismorio House deliberations on the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 won't be a casualty of the sudden change of leadership in the chamber. Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles
(Federico Cruz / File | Manila Bulletin) Thus reckoned Appropriations Committee Chairman, Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles Thursday as he expressed confidence that the House's budgeting process would go on without a hitch. According to Nograles, the transition team formed by newly-installed House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is working hard to ensure the smooth transfer of power and assumption of duties of the fourth most powerful position in the country. He said the proposed 2019 National Expenditure Program (NEP) has been submitted by Malacañang to the House of Representatives. The expenditure details spelled out in the cash-based NEP will serve as the basis for the budget hearings scheduled to go full swing on July 31. Nograles expects Speaker Arroyo's office to soon hand down the P3.757-trillion NEP to the Appropriations panel, which he has led since the start of the 17th Congress in July 2016. "May proseso eh (There is a process). has to go to the Office of the Speaker, the Office of the Speaker has to give it to the Appro Committee. We'll go through the proper channels...Sundan lang namin yung procedure. Kaya nga gusto namin yung smooth transition para maganda naman, proper lahat (We will just follow the procedure. That's why we want a smooth transition so that everything would be nice and proper)," he said. On Monday, some 184 House members voted in favor of replacing Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez with Arroyo, who represents Pampanga's 2nd district. Nograles led the roll call of members during this particular session. Arroyo, like Nograles, is a close ally and party-mate of President Rodrigo Duterte. Arroyo subsequently created a transition team composed of Deputy Speakers Fredenil Castro (Capiz), Raneo Abu (Batangas), Miro Quimbo (Marikina); Deputy Majority Leader Arthur Defensor Jr. (Iloilo); and Economic Affairs Chairman Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap. Nograles said that among the immediate tasks of the transition team was ensuring the immediate ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), nominating a new Majority Floor Leader to act as Arroyo's right-hand man and formally handing over the reins to the new Speaker. This includes submitting the NEP to the Appropriations Committee as soon as possible. "That's why we want to fix it now. Nene-negotiate naman namin na maging maayos ang lahat (We are negotiating for everything to be hitch-free)," he said. The House already ratified the BOL during Tuesday's session, while the Majority Floor Leader's identity will be revealed very soon. The Nograles panel is burdened with the crucial task of looking for sources of funds to finance the implementation of government programs, including those aimed at benefiting probinsyanos and improving the quality of their lives. Nograles had earlier vowed to champion the cause of countryside residents once talks on the 2019 budget begin during the current third regular sessions. There has been no reenacted budget under the Davao solon's watch.