House to approve ‘pork-free’ 2019 budget today — Andaya
House Majority Leader Rolando G. Andaya. Photo from Rolando Andaya’s office
Updated (4:40 p.m.)
The House of Representatives will pass the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 budget on final reading during their afternoon session today, according to House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr.
“In line with our constitutional duty as well as the agreement with the finance committee of the Senate, we will pass the budget on third reading today…” Andaya said in a press briefing.
“We will pass it today and then transmit it to the Senate so wala ‘yung mga pagdududa na magkakaroon tayo ng reenacted budget,” he added.
This is contrary to the chamber’s November 28 target date of approval, which Senate President Vicente Sotto III said was “too late.” Andaya also said Sotto texted him over the weekend and requested that they pass the budget early this week.
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Andaya also dismissed Senator Panfilo Lacson’s accusations that the delay in the House deliberation on the 2019 appropriation was due to pork insertions.
“Wala (pork barrel). Lahat ng amendment na ginawa at gagawin pa we itemized (There’s no pork barrel. All the amendments we made and we would make were itemized),” he said. “Everything is compliant with the laws, with the Supreme Court decision…”
“Although we admit na may portions na ‘di mo mala-line item tulad ng calamity fund dahil hindi mo naman pwedeng hulaan kung ilan ang bagyong papasok…,” he added.
The lawmaker also said changes were made to give way to President Rodrigo Duterte and other House members’ requests.
“Hanggang sa kaya namin ipasok ‘yan we will do it as a commitment to him (Duterte) that the budget will be in line with his vision,” Andaya said.
He also vowed that the controversial P51.8 billion infrastructure budget that was realigned to various agencies would be itemized into specific state projects.
READ: Andaya says P52B realigned funds to be itemized
The House leader also said their scheduled all-member caucus later would tackle the 2019 budget. /ee
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