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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pimentel to Zubiri: Don't rush approval of 2024 national budget

Pimentel to Zubiri: Don't rush approval of 2024 national budget

Published Nov 5, 2023 05:50 am

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Sunday, November 5 said the minority bloc will ask their colleagues in the majority not to rush the passage into law of next year’s proposed P5.267-trillion national budget. 

 

“I will ask the chairman if we can phase the timeline on the proposed budget so we can have time to scrutinize all agencies’ budget thoroughly and provide quality intervention,” Pimentel said in an interview on Radio DZBB, referring to Senate Committee on Finance chairman Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

 

The senator explained it is not only the Senate minority bloc that is interested on the national budget, but the people.

 

“The people are also looking forward to it. There is already a technology, the proceedings are done livestream. The people also want to understand the budget process, how it is done, how the funds are spent, where and how much is spent by the government. The essence is so important,” he pointed out. 

 

The minority leader disclosed this after Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said that the Senate will approve the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) by November 27. 

 

This was after the Senate formally received a copy of the budget measure on Saturday, November 4, from House Speaker Martin Romualdez at the House of Representatives. 

 

“I will request this to chairman Angara not to fast break the measure. We are also about to be senior citizens. We can’t do fast break. Allow us to dribble the ball, let’s not always do a fastbreak,” he appealed.

 

Pimentel noted that the quality of the Senate’s intervention on the national government's expenditure program is going down especially when they start forcing for an early schedule of budget approval. 

 

“I will suggest that during the earlier part of the deliberation, we take up the most important and critical agencies…then we can discuss the budget of other executive offices during the latter part,” he pointed out. 

 

“As much as possible, let’s take them up from the very start. Let’s not cram because there are so many agencies, and I admit the quality of intervention has gone down,” he lamented. 

 

The Senate is set to resume its regular sessions on Monday, November 6. The Upper Chamber will then adjourn on December 16 for the Christmas break. 

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juan miguel zubiri koko pimentel
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