The proposed P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or national budget for 2024 is ready to enter the final stage of deliberations in the House of Representatives.
The GAB will undergo plenary debates starting Tuesday, Sept. 19, en route to its target passage on third and final by Sept. 27.
P5.768-T national budget for 2024 enters final stage in House
Sep 18, 2023 06:36 AM
At a glance
House of Representatives (MANILA BULLETIN)
The proposed P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or national budget for 2024 is ready to enter the final stage of deliberations in the House of Representatives.
"This budget will serve as a cornerstone for sustainable development, inclusive growth, and robust public services,” Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, said in a statement Monday, Sept. 18.
Embodied in House Bill (HB) No.8980, the GAB will undergo plenary debates starting Tuesday, Sept. 19, en route to its target passage on third and final by Sept. 27.
The GAB or the proposed budget will be transmitted to the Senate soon after this.
"The objective is to create an open platform for balanced discussions, allowing all stakeholders to voice their opinions. In doing so, we aim to ensure that the final budget genuinely reflects the collective will and aspirations of our nation," Co explained.
"Transparency is more than a mere term; it is a fundamental commitment. The public has the right to know how their resources are being allocated, and it is our duty to provide that information," said the Bicolano.
The Co panel carried out the grueling per agency hearings on the 2024 budget from Aug. 10 to Sept. 12.
This paved the way for the floor debates, wherein the vice chairmen of the appropriations committee will defend the individual budgets of the agencies from anyone from the 311-member chamber who would pose questions.
Co said the public can expect comprehensive debates on specific elements of departmental appropriations for the upcoming plenary sessions.
"The objective is to create an open platform for balanced discussions, allowing all stakeholders to voice their opinions. In doing so, we aim to ensure that the final budget genuinely reflects the collective will and aspirations of our nation," he explained.
"Our overarching aim is to formulate a budget that serves both the immediate needs and long-term ambitions of our nation," Co further said.