House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Facebook)

The Bicameral Conference Committee need not complicate the reconciling process for the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2025.

Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez on the first day of the bicam meetings on Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Sheraton Manila Hotel.

"We’re all here because we’ve been trusted with a responsibility. Let’s live up to that trust. Let’s have honest, productive discussions, and let’s find the common ground that puts the people first,” Romualdez said in his speech before the House and Senate contigents to the bicam.

The bicam meetings are intended to harmonize the two versions of 2025 GAB--one passed by the House of Representatives and one passed by the Senate.

The leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives said the bicam need not complicate its deliberations on next year’s outlay--the biggest in the country’s history.

“Let’s keep things practical and straightforward. We don’t need to overcomplicate this. Let’s focus on what will make the biggest difference for the Filipino people," Romualdez said.

"The programs that matter, the services they rely on, and the investments that will move this country forward - those should be non-negotiable,” he underscored.

“We owe it to every Filipino who wakes up every day trying to make ends meet, hoping that their government has their back. Let’s give them a budget that says, ‘Yes, we hear you. Yes, we care. And yes, we’re doing something about it’,” said Romualdez.

The Speaker reminded bicam members that the budget “has the power to either improve or disrupt the lives of millions of Filipinos".

“This is no ordinary task. We’re not just crunching numbers; we’re crafting solutions to real problems faced by real people every single day,” he stressed.

The Leyte 1st district congressman said the House made sure that its version of the budget “reflects the priorities of the Filipino people".

“We focused on what’s urgent: keeping food prices down, creating jobs, making healthcare accessible, improving education, and ensuring disaster preparedness,” he said. He was sure senators shared these same goals.

“So now, it’s up to us in this bicam to bridge the gaps - not just between the House and the Senate but, more importantly, between what our people need and what we can deliver,” he said.

“This is where we prove that we’re capable of working together, not just as representatives of our respective chambers but as leaders who genuinely care about the future of this country,” he added.

The House leader pointed out that the two chambers “may have different approaches, but the outcome must be the same: a budget that works for everyone - from the farmers in rural provinces to the workers in urban centers, from small business owners to young students dreaming of a better life.”

“I know we can get this done, and I know we can do it right. So let’s get to work,” he told his solon-colleagues.