Tuesday bicam meeting on 2019 budget canceled– Andaya
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate conferees to the bicameral conference have requested the cancellation of debates on the proposed P3.8 trillion 2019 national budget scheduled Tuesday, House appropriations panel chair Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said.
In a statement, the Camarines Sur 1st District congressman said the Senate contingent led by Senator Loren Legarda “have yet to finalize the complete details of institutional and individual amendments requested by the House conferees.”
The Senate-House conference on the General Appropriations Bill would resume their meeting on Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, Andaya added.
Andaya earlier requested for the breakdown of the institutional and individual amendments of the Senate before proceeding with their meetings.
He added that the House would also release the same and would “own up” to their proposed amendments “down to the district level.”
“We are willing to break it down,” Andaya said in an interview. “Ang hindi lang kasi namin na gather pa na information dahil so far ‘yung proposed amendments ng Senado, are all in general terms, shall we say lump sums.”
Legarda, chair of the Senate finance panel, earlier said they hope to finish the conference by January 30 and ratify the proposed expenditure plan on February 6. /muf
READ: House ready to ‘own up’ amendments, insertions in 2019 budget– Andaya
Andaya, as well as Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson, have also confirmed that the bicam agreed during Monday’s meeting to remove the funding for dredging projects which Andaya said has been “prone to corruption.” /muf
READ: Drilon, Lacson: No more budget for dredging in 2019
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