House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Jr. on Monday said the House plenary debates on the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 budget would push through and that no reorganization will happen at the lower chamber.
Andaya gave this assurance after several lawmakers have claimed that Davao 1st District Rep. Karlo Nograles would be ousted as the chair of the House appropriations panel. Nograles has also dismissed this.
READ: Nograles to be ousted as House budget chief, sources say
READ: Nograles dismisses claims he would be ousted as House budget chief
“The plenary deliberations on the proposed 2019 national budget will push through as scheduled today with Rep. Karlo Nograles sponsoring the measure as chairman of the Committee on Appropriations,” Andaya said in a statement.
“There is no reorganization. The plenary debates will begin at the scheduled time. Business as usual,” he added.
But as of 3:51 p.m., the plenary debates— scheduled at 10:00 a.m.— has yet to recommence.
Andaya said the House leadership has made a commitment to wrap up the deliberations on the proposed budget before the October break and to pass the General Appropriations Act in the chamber before October 13. /ee