House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading on Wednesday night, Sept. 25 the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2025--the biggest outlay yet in the country’s history. 

Deputy Speaker Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Fracso, the presiding officer, declared the budget measure--House Bill (HB) No.10800--as gaining the chamber’s final nod at past 8:30 p.m. following nominal voting during Wednesday's session. 

A total of 285 House members voted "yes" to HB No.10800, while three voted "no". There were no abstentions. 

Wednesday's approval also capped a grueling eight-week budget process in the House, which began with the Committee on Appropriations' discussions on the P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP)--the precursor of the GAB--last Aug. 5. 

The 2025 GAB is the final budget measure of the 19th Congress. 

The lawmakers will go on a six-week recess starting Thursday, Sept. 26. They won't convene again until Monday, Nov. 4.

As what is customary, Malacañang declared HB No.10800 as an urgent piece of legislation. This allowed for the back-to-back passage of the bill on second reading and on third reading Wednesday. 

Speaking of customary, the House leadership also formed the traditional "small committee" that will be tasked to collate the 300-plus strong chamber's individual amendments to the proposed budget. 

The members of the small committee are Majority Leader Zamboanga City 1st district Rep. Mannix Dalipe, Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan, Appropriations Committee Chairman Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and Appropriations Committee Senior Vice Chairperson Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo. 

Upbeat from the timely passage of the GAB, House Speaker Martin Romualdez prodded his colleagues during his speech to “continue riding this wave of hard work and rest with the satisfaction that no matter what, we will always succeed".

“We have sufficient time to finally agree on the budget before yearend. It is the most important piece of legislation Congress passes every year,” noted Romualdez.

He added: “Next year’s spending legislation will serve as our tool for sustained economic development. It will support the Agenda for Prosperity programs of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.”

Overshadowed budget process 

Grearltly overshadowing the budget process this year was the non-participation of Vice President Sara Duterte and the rest of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 

Never before in the decades of the House's exercise of the power of the purse has an agency head purposely skipped a committee level budget briefing and/ or the plenary budget debates. But that's what the Vice President did, as she insisted that she would leave the OVP''s P2.037-billion budget next year "entirely to the pleasure of the House of Representatives". 

Perhaps Minority Leader Libanan perfectly encapsulated the House members' concerns when he acknowledged the issue in his traditional turno-en-contra Wednesday night. 

"This refusal to engage in the budget interpellation process is troubling, especially given the importance of transparency and accountability in public spending," he said. 

"Mr. Speaker, the Vice President’s refusal to address questions on this matter leaves many unanswered concerns about the appropriate use of public resources. As Representative Stella Quimbo rightly pointed out, the General Appropriations Act is arguably the most important piece of legislation every year, and the refusal to justify this budget undermines both the public’s trust and the legislative process. 

"How can we expect the Filipino people to trust our government if we cannot even ensure transparency at the highest levels?"asked Libanan. 

In the end, the plenary adopted the recommendation of the Co panel to realign some 63 percent of the P2.037-billion outlay to social services, and maintain a lean P733 million for the OVP in 2025. 

“Ang magiging badyet para sa OVP ay P733 milyon na halos kapareho ng badyet noong panahon ni Vice President Leni Robredo. Kasama na dito ang P30 milyon na makakatulong sa pagharap ng OVP sa epekto ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” said Romualdez. 

(The OVP budget will be P733 million, nearly similar to the budget during the time of Vice President Leni Robredo. This includes the P30 million that will help the OVP face the effects of the hike in prices of basic goods.)

HAVE YOU READ THIS?

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/25/romualdez-does-vp-duterte-a-favor

Timely passage 

That the House was able to overcome these challenges and pass the GAB on time was hailed by Libanan. 

"Mr. Speaker, despite these challenges, we finished the deliberation of the FY 2025 Budget in a record number sessions of eight days – showing quick and effective decision-making. May I laud the members of the Minority for their exhaustive interpellation of the agencies. In scrutinizing the budget of each government agency, we are fulfilling our mandate under the constitution by ensuring the proper spending of our people’s money," he said. 

Co also lauded the timely passage of the P6.352-trillion spending plan, which he said would ensure the country's continued growth and progress. 

"Ipinagmamalaki namin na napasa namin ang budget on time, hindi lang para matugunan ang deadlines, kundi para patunayan ang aming dedikasyon na maglingkod para sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan (We are proud to say that we passed the budget on time, not only to meet deadlines, but to prove our dedication to serve our countrymen)," Co said. 

“This budget was crafted with careful consideration on where public funds should go—back to the people. Siniguro naming bawat pisong buwis ng mamamayan ay may tamang kapalit na serbisyo at programang pakikinabangan nila (We made sure that every peso of our taxpayer’s money will provide them with services and programs for their benefit),” he noted. 

He said the P6.352-trillion budget for 2025 is 10.14 percent higher or P584.79 more than the 2024 budget of P5.768 trillion. Of the proposed budget, the total new general appropriations requiring legislative authorization amount to P4.405 trillion. 

Co commended each vice chairperson and members of the committee for maintaining its focus on its responsibilities. 

The House-approved 2025 GAB was ordered transmitted to the Senate for further deliberation before Wednesday's session was ended.