Zubiri: Proposed 2020 nat’l budget to be prioritized when 18th Congress resumes

MANILA, Philippines — The P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020 will be prioritized when the 18th Congress resumes its first regular session, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said Saturday.

“The Senate Finance Committee will definitely be busy conducting marathon hearings on the proposed P4.1 trillion National Government budget for next year. Congress is set to resume session after a one-month recess to tackle the 2020 Budget and other priority measures,” Zubiri said in a statement.

The 18th Congress is currently on break but will resume on Monday (Nov. 4) next week.

Zubiri said the Senate wanted to ensure that the 2020 proposed General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will be passed on time.

To allow this to happen, the senator said the Senate Finance Committee will conduct marathon hearings.

Several programs and projects for the people were delayed after Congress failed the timely passage of the 2019 national budget, Zubiri stressed.

Before the month-long break, Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 154 which mandates committees to conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during the recess to continue passing pending bills.

Aside from the 2020 budget, Senate is expected to finish plenary debates on measures pending on second reading. These bills are the Grant of Night Shift Differential Pay for Government Employees including Government-Owned and –Controlled Corporations (Senate Bill No. 643); Separate Facility for Prisoners Convicted of Heinous Crimes (SBN 1055); Increasing Excise Taxes on Alcohol Products, Heated Tobacco and Vapor Products (SBN 1074); Creation of Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health Hospitals (SBN 1076); Creation of a National Transportation Safety Board (SBN 1077); Amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (SBN 1083); Creation of the Philippine High School for Sports in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac (SBN 1086) and Grant of Teaching Supplies Allowance for Public School Teachers (SBN 1092). /jpv