INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Plenary debates at the House of Representatives on the proposed 2023 budget of the Philippine Space Agency and five other government agencies were terminated after the Minority bloc of the House refrained from asking questions on Wednesday.
On the second day of the plenary debates for the 2023 National Expenditures Program at the House, the Minority moved several times to terminate the period of interpellation as no lawmaker from the bloc was lined up to ask questions.
During the deliberations for the Philippine Space Agency, An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Gabriel Noel made the motion to terminate the budget deliberations of the said agency.
“There being no member from the minority who wishes to interpellate on the budget of the Philippine Space Agency, we move that we terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget,” Noel said.
“Mr. Speaker on the part of the Majority we join the Minority to terminate deliberation of the Philippine Space Agency,” Assistant Majority Floor Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega replied.
The same thing happened with the proposed budgets of the following agencies:
- Film Development Council of the Philippines
- Optical Media Board
- Philippine Racing Commission
- Southern Philippines Development Authority
- Development Academy of the Philippines
For the Civil Service Commission, OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas raised some questions. Similarly, several Minority lawmakers have brought concerns and queries when it was the Department of Justice (DOJ) budget was being deliberated.
As of posting time, interpellation of the DOJ budget is ongoing.
The House resumed its session at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday as it aims to pass the proposed 2023 national budget before Congress goes on a recess by October. This would allow the Senate some time to scrutinize the budget before session resumes in November.
During the first day of deliberations on Tuesday, House committee on appropriations chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co sponsored the budget bill, saying next year’s proposed appropriation is geared towards economic transformation and recovery amid rising inflation and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: House plenary debates on proposed 2023 budget start