Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Escudero's Facebook page)

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero expects the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or national budget to be approved either by the first or second week of December.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, Escudero says the Senate is “on track” to complete all the committee deliberations this month while Congress is in recess.

He said this information came from Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate finance committee, who had been overseeing the progress of vice chairpersons in the various subcommittees.

Escudero added that the House of Representatives will submit its approved 2025 GAB, amounting to P6.352 trillion, to the Senate on Oct. 25.

“Sabi ko, baka pwedeng mas maaga kung kaya mas ma-review na namin. Pero ang timeline nila ay Oct. 25,” he noted.

(I said, maybe it could be earlier so we can review it sooner. But their timeline is Oct. 25.)

Once the GAB is transmitted, Escudero says the upper chamber will file a committee report by Nov. 4, or once Congress resumes sessions.

“Inaasahan namin na by Nov. 6 at the latest, kung makatyamba Nov. 5 the following day, ay maso-sponsoran na ang panukalang budget ng 2025,” the Senate leader said. 

(We expect that by Nov. 6 at the latest, or maybe on Nov. 5 the following day, the proposed 2025 budget will be sponsored in plenary.)

“Baka masimulan na rin namin ang interpellations sa general principles ng Nov. 5 or 6, at magpapatuloy ang plenary debates to the following week,” he continued.

(We might also start the interpellations on the general principles on Nov. 5 or 6, and the plenary debates will continue into the following week.)

According to Escudero, the Senate is ready to deliberate the 2025 budget from the morning to the wee hours of the following day.

He said Congress (House and Senate) needs to submit the consolidated version of the proposed budget to Malacañang before the two chambers go on another break for the holiday season.

Last year, President Marcos signed the national budget for 2024 on Dec. 20, which was during the third week of the month.