House approves proposed 2019 budget on second reading

The House of Representatives on Wednesday night approved on second reading the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. made the motion to vote for approval for the General Appropriations Bill ( House Bill No. 8169), which the chamber conducted via viva voce or by voice.

Andaya also moved for the creation of a small committee to tackle individual amendments by House members. The panel has until Oct. 9 to finish this.

The chamber eyes the approval of the budget on third and final reading this October.

This is the first cash-based national budget, Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, vice chair of the appropriations committee, said during her sponsorship speech.

The budget is about P433 billion, or 13 percent, higher than the 2018 cash-based equivalent of P3.324 trillion, she added.

Under the proposed budget, the social services sector will get the largest allocation with P1.377 trillion, or 36.7 percent of the total 2019 budget.

This sector includes the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. /atm