FILE PHOTO: Senator Sonny Angara, chairperson of the committee on finance. (Albert Calvelo, Joseph Vidal / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on finance’s report on the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 will be filed next week, panel chair Senator Sonny Angara disclosed on Wednesday.
Angara noted specifically that he was looking forward to sponsoring and defending the government’s spending plan next year during a plenary session on Tuesday, November 8.
“We aim to file the committee report on the budget (general appropriations act) on Monday and sponsor it the following Tuesday,” he said in a statement.
But in a follow-up message, Angara’s communications director said the committee report would be filed on Tuesday morning.
According to Angara, the calamity fund for 2023 is P30 billion, higher than the previous years.
“Given the increased frequency and magnitude of recent typhoons, this is appropriate,” he noted.
“Certainly, the committee will always be open to changes that may help our people during these difficult times and which will improve the government’s response to these calamities,” he also explained.
Just over the weekend, the Philippines took a beating from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) which left at least 120 people killed and more than three million individuals distressed.
On September 28, the House of Representatives approved the proposed P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023 on third and final reading.