DBM transmits 2020 national budget plan to Senate

From left to right: Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, and Senator Sonny Angara. Photo from the Office of Senator Sonny Angara

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Tuesday received copies of the 2020 National Expenditure Program (NEP) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

A photo shared by Senator Sonny Angara’s office showed Acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado handing over copies of the proposed 4.1 trillion national budget plan.

Aside from Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senator Panfilo Lacson were also present to receive the copies.

Earlier this month, Angara predicted a “tough and thorough” scrutiny of the proposed 2020 budget.

“In my seven years in the Senate what I have observed is that oftentimes, the hardest questions come from members of the majority. So the review actually is not just the minority’s job but of every member regardless of political affiliation,” he said.

READ: Angara sees ‘tough, thorough’ scrutiny of 2020 national budget