BATASAN PLENARY HALL / INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral conference committee’s report containing the consolidated version of the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 has been ratified by the House of Representatives.
During the tail end of the session on Monday, Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe moved to ratify the bicameral committee’s report, which was approved just this morning.
House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez presided over the viva voce voting.
READ: Bicam approves consolidated version of proposed 2023 budget
With the House ratification, lawmakers would await the Senate’s ratification before the latest version is forwarded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his signature. Once Marcos signs the General Appropriations Bill, it is enacted into law.
Earlier, it was announced by Senator Sonny Angara and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co that there were key changes to the 2023 GAB.
Two of the notable amendments are the restoration of the P150 million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) of the Department of Education (DepEd), and the P10 billion National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) funds initially slashed for poor absorptive capacity.
READ: Bicam restores DepEd’s original P150 million confidential, intel funds
Angara also said earlier that funds had been appropriated to essential programs like the Libreng Sakay project.
READ: Bicam vows funding for Libreng Sakay, social aid, PhilHealth