House OKs bill extending 2019 budget validity on 2nd reading

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The joint resolution-turned-bill seeking to extend the validity of portions of the 2019 national budget until Dec. 31, 2020 will soon hurdle the House of Representatives.

The House approved on second reading on Tuesday consolidated House Bill No. 5437 through viva voce, or a vote of ayes and nays.

This was previously House Joint Resolution No. 13, which was already passed on third reading last Nov. 6.

READ: Reso extending validity of portions of 2019 budget gets House nod

Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab, House appropriations committee chairman, earlier explained that the joint resolution was refiled as a bill in compliance with a recent Supreme Court ruling stating that “a mere resolution cannot amend or repeal a prior law which is an act of Congress.”

The measure, which consolidated the bills filed by Ungab, Antique Rep. Legarda and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte, no longer had to pass through the committee level.

It went straight to the plenary floor as its contents were “just the same” as those from the previously approved resolution, Ungab said.

The measure would have to go through a third and final reading before it successfully passes in the House.

A counterpart bill was also filed at the Senate by Sen. Sonny Angara, Senate finance committee chairman. The chamber also previously approved the resolution at the committee level before replacing it with a bill.

READ: Extended validity of 2019 budget gets Senate panel’s nod

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