Senators hold caucus to discuss 2019 budget, Road Board abolition

MANILA, Philippines — Senators held a caucus on Monday to discuss a “few important matters.”

After a month-long break, the Senate resumed its session at 10:00 am this Monday.

At the start of the session, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri already announced that the session would be suspended for an all-senators caucus.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III earlier said that the timetable for the approval of the 2019 national budget would be the top agenda of their caucus.

The House of Representatives had already approved the 2019 national budget but it remains pending in the Senate.

Also in the agenda, Sotto said, was whether or not there is a need for a bicameral conference committee hearing on a bill, abolishing the corruption-ridden Road Board.

Because as far as the Senate is concerned, Sotto said the board was already abolished when they adopted en toto the House version of the measure. /je