The House of Representatives leadership revealed on Monday, Nov.,21 the 14 solons that will comprise the chamber's contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee alongside the Senate on the disagreeing provisions of the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Heading the list are Committee on Appropriations Chairman, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co; appropriations panel Senior Vice Chairperson, Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo; Deputy Speakers Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr.; Majority Leader, Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe; and Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos.
Also listed are four vice chairmen of the appropriations panel, namely Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez, Mandaluyong City lone district Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, Agusan del Norte 1st district Rep. Jose "Joboy" Aquino II, and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon.
Also included in the House contingent to the bicam on the GAB or national budget are Committee on Accounts Vice Chairman, Romblon lone district Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona; and Committee on Ways and Means member, Rizal 1st district Rep. Michael John Duavit.
Rounding off the 14 are Minority Leader, 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan; and independent minority member, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.
The motion to form the House bicam contingent was made by presidential son, Rep. Marcos at the tail end of Monday night's session.
Gonzales, the presiding officer at plenary, subsequently carried the motion.
Together with the Senate contingent, the House contingent will work to harmonize the conflicting provisions of the House and eventual Senate versions of the GAB, which for next year is worth P5.268 trillion--the highest jn the country’s history.