MANILA, Philippines?The Senate on Monday began its marathon session on the proposed P1.4-trillion national budget for 2010.

Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the finance committee, immediately took the floor when the session opened at about 9:30 a.m. to refer for plenary discussion the budget of the Department of Energy.

Senator Gringo Honasan, chairman of the committee on energy, had sponsored and defended the energy budget. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes was also present on the floor.

Also scheduled for plenary discussion this Monday morning were the proposed budgets of the departments of justice and education, as well as various state universities and colleges.

But before the budget hearing, senators agreed to suspend the proceeding to give way to a caucus that would discuss the government?s martial law declaration in Maguindanao.

?We will open the session and then we go to the process of making a roll call, determine the presence of a quorum, then do a reference of business, deal with the calendar of today, and then we will probably suspend, and then go into a caucus,? Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile told reporters before the session.