House can’t pass 2019 national budget before Congress goes on break

It is unlikely that the House of Representatives will pass the proposed 2019 national budget on final reading before it goes on a one-month break, lawmakers said Wednesday.

House Minority Leader and Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez said there’s “not a chance” that the proposed P3.757-trillion budget under the General Appropriations Bill or House Bill No. 8169 would be passed during Wednesday’s session later.

“No, not a chance. Dami pa (aayusin), baka pagkabalik na lang,” Suarez told reporters in a press briefing.

Danilo Suarez

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, a member of the small committee constituted to tackle the individual amendments by House members on the budget, said the funding measure was not in the agenda for Wednesday’s session.

“It will not be taken up today (Wednesday),” Lagman said in a phone interview.

“This will be taken up after we come back from our Halloween break on the second week of November,” he added.

Today is the last session day of Congress before it goes on a recess. Congress will resume sessions on November 12.

“Pag-aaralan ng small group ‘yung mga amendments, and then if it’s valid, we will have it approved,” Suarez said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

COOP-NATCCO Rep. Anthony Bravo also said some government agencies would still submit revisions to their budgets.

“Dapat maayos ng maigi… It should be according to the priority of the government,” he added.

The lower chamber approved the proposed 2019 budget on second reading on October 3 and is now undergoing amendments before a small panel.

READ: House approves proposed 2019 budget on second reading

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