Sotto: Senate will scrutinize P4.1-T 2020 budget despite House’s swift passage

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will properly scrutinize the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 even if the House of Representatives swiftly approved the 2020 expenditure bill, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Saturday.

“No, not at all. It will just give us a better timetable,” Sotto said in an interview with DWIZ on Saturday when asked if the Senate is pressured to make a hasty approval on the national budget after House approved the budget only after a month of debate.

On Friday, House of Representatives approved the House Bill No. 4228 or the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on second reading and on final reading right after by a 257-6 vote.

READ: House swiftly OKs P4.1-T nat’l budget for 2020 after only a month of debates

Sotto said the move was “record-high” as the Senate would usually receive the GAB by October.

When asked how the Senate will handle possible “pork barrel” at the GAB, Sotto said pork insertions in the budget will definitely not favor Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Sonny Angara.

“Sa Senado, meron kami subcommittee chair na si Sen. Lacson na gumagamit ng fine-toothed comb. Hindi makakalusot kay Senator Angara at Senator Ping,” Sotto said.

The passage of 2019 national budget faced delays due to questionable allocations and pork insertions.

President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the P95.3-billion worth of items in the 2019 budget when he signed it only on April this year. /jpv