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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Quimbo finally addresses 'blank budget' claim, calls 2025 GAA 'complete, lawful'

Quimbo finally addresses 'blank budget' claim, calls 2025 GAA 'complete, lawful'

Published Jan 27, 2025 09:03 am

At A Glance

  • The P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2025 is complete and lawful, House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo said.

IMG-0f62bc7a9229b1dbbc57916db0f6a728-V.jpgMarikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2025 is complete and lawful, House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo said.

Quimbo had this to say Monday, Jan. 27 even as he took a dig at certain personalities for creating controversies out of thin air.

"I am issuing this statement to reaffirm what has already been clearly stated by the Executive Secretary, the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Senate President, and the President himself," she said in a statement as the acting appropriations panel chairperson.

"The 2025 General Appropriations Act is lawful, valid, and fully enforceable. There are two key points I want to stress for the benefit of all. First, the enrolled General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is complete, with no blank allocations among its more than 235,000 line items," Quimbo said.

"Second, the Bicameral Report explicitly authorized the technical secretariats of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to implement corrections and adjustments as required. These do not affect the integrity nor the legality of the budget," she added.

'Politically-motivated'

Monday was the first time that Quimbo addressed the "blank budget" claim of Marcos administration critic, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Quimbo, the most senior member of the appropriations panel was thrust into the spotlight following Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co's resignation as committee chairman last Jan. 13.

"Any suggestion of impropriety is unfounded and appears to be politically-motivated rather than prompted by genuinely substantive concerns," Quimbo said.

"It is unfortunate that an administrative matter is being maliciously misconstrued to create controversy where there is none," added the veteran legislator.

READ MORE:

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/23/solon-says-he-knows-endgame-of-digong-s-blank-budget-tirade

'Tell the truth'

Over the weekend, Quezon congressman Erin Tanada pressed Quimbo to "tell the truth" about the alleged blank items in the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). The GAB is the precursor to the GAA.

“Why is Rep. Stella Quimbo afraid to tell the truth if there are blanks in the 2025 Budget?” Tanada wrote on X as he reposted a video of Quimbo dodging questions from reporters about the issue during an ambush interview.

"She should know. She is the newly installed Chair of the Committee of Appropriations. She was part of the Bi-Cam. Is she hiding the truth?” asked Tanada.

“Nagmamadali lang siya. Sa Monday na lang. Babalik siya (She's just in a rush. She'll ba back on Monday,” Quimbo’s aide told reporters as the lawmaker walked slowly to her vehicle.

Sure enough, the aspiring Marikina mayor came out with a statement Monday and even faced journalists afterward.

"This matter has been sufficiently explained, and at a time when we face far real and urgent national challenges, it would be more productive to focus our efforts on addressing the legitimately pressing needs of our people," she said.

Sieveral lawmakers, including Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, and Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab, claimed the existence of blank items in the bicameral report on the 2025 budget.

Manuel claimed he saw a total of 12 blank items affecting the amounts in agriculture-related programs, activities, and projects, and unprogrammed appropriations.

Related Tags

stella quimbo blank budget national budget Erin Tañada zaldy co
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