The plenary hall of the House of Representatives (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives is aiming to approve the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 on third and final reading by Sept. 25, according to Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo.

Quimbo, the senior vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the lower chamber will hold marathon hearings to finalize the budget within the next two weeks or before Congress goes on recess.

She said the plenary debates on the proposed budget will start on Monday morning, Sept. 16.

“Confident tayo na matatapos sa Sept. 25…Araw-araw mag-uumpisa na tayo [ng 10 a.m.] tuloy-tuloy ‘yan hanggat hindi natin matapos ang naka-schedule na agencies for that day,” Quimbo said.

(We are confident that it will be finished on Sept. 25...Every day we will start at 10 a.m. until we finish the scheduled agencies for that day.)

Unlike the just-concluded committee deliberations, Quimbo noted that the officials of government agencies will not be allowed to respond directly. Instead, taking their part are the lawmakers sponsoring their respective budgets.

“So, debate po siya (it is a debate) between members of the House,” she said.

She added that agency officials could help their budget sponsor by giving them the necessary information to respond appropriately.

Based on the schedule of floor deliberations for the 2025 proposed budget, Quimbo said lawmakers would first debate on general principles used in putting together the budget.

On Sep. 16, the agencies scheduled for debates include the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Justice, and the Judiciary.

The following day, the Commission on Human Rights, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, and Department of Labor and Employment are scheduled for the budget debates.

On Sept. 18, lawmakers will tackle the budgets of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Commission on Elections, Department of Trade and Industry, and State Universities and Colleges, among others

The budgets of the Department of National Defense, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Migrant Workers are included in the debates on Sep. 19.

On the final day of the first week of debates, the agencies that will be discussed include the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Science and Technology, and Presidential Communications Office, as well as allocation to local government units.

On Monday, Sep. 23, the budgets of the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health will be up for scrutiny.

The day after, the agencies scheduled include the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Transportation, and the Commission on Audit.

Lastly, on Sep. 25, the Office of the President, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Congress of the Philippines will undergo the last round of debates before congressmen are expected to approve the proposed 2025 national budget.