The bicameral conference committee on Monday, December 11, has drafted the final version of the proposed P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2024.
The bicameral conference committee report on the 2024 General Appropriations Bill has been approved by the Senate and House panels led by Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson Sen. Sonny Angara and House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Rep. Elizaldy Co Dec. 11, 2023, at Shangri-la Hotel, Makati City. (Senate PRIB Photo)
Senate Finance Committee chief Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said none of the members of the bicam pushed to restore the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which are both under Vice President Sara Duterte.
There were 16 special provisions in the 2024 GAB that had to be threshed out, according to Angara.
The lawmaker also confirmed that the confidential funds that were removed were channeled to security agencies.
Angara said next year’s budget aims “to sustain the country’s growth and give the Filipinos hope amidst the current uncertainty situation such as the recent Marawi bombing.”
“I think it's a budget for growth, to sustain our (economic) growth. It’s a budget that would give our people hope knowing that these days are a little bit uncertain,” Angara told reporters in an interview.
Angara, together with House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Rep. Elizaldy Co, held the bicameral meeting at Shangri-la Hotel, Makati City.
The chairpersons were joined by conferees from the Senate panel: Senators Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa; and House panel: Representatives Neptali Gonzales II, Ralph Recto, Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., David "Jay-Jay" Suarez, Stella Quimbo, Marcelino Libanan, Raul Angelo Jil Bongalon, and Manuel Jose Mannix Dalipe.
The Senate and House of Representatives are expected to ratify the 2024 budget later today.