Palace sees ‘smooth sailing’ bicam on 2019 nat’l budget

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said Tuesday it expects a “smooth sailing” bicameral deliberations on the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019, dismissing Senator Panfilo Lacson’s claim that it would be “bloody and sweaty.”

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing that lawmakers have already talked about the matter, thus, “There will be no fireworks in the bicam.”

“According to them they will pass it. According to the Speaker, they will pass it. According to Senator Sotto, [they will pass it],” he added.

The Palace official said the executive branch have “submitted a general appropriations bill… for them to go over it, approve it, revise it, amend it.”

“What we are expecting is they will approve it. They will approve the General Appropriations Bill,” he also said.

He then pointed out the President could always veto provisions he doesn’t like.

But Panelo hoped lawmakers would set aside their differences during the 2019 budget deliberations.

“They are all honorable members of Congress. They know that the passage of the bill will benefit the Filipino people,” he said. /kga