MANILA, Philippines — The proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024 now only needs President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature to become law, after the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report on Monday.
During the plenary session, the House approved, via viva voce or voice voting, the final version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) — which was finalized earlier by the bicam panel.
READ: Bicam panel finalizes next year’s P5.768T nat’l budget bill
The Senate ratified the same bicam report around 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
READ: Senate ratifies P5.768T nat’l budget for 2024
During the bicam meeting earlier in Makati City, the chairpersons of appropriations panels from both chambers of Congress – Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and Senator Sonny Angara – confirmed that confidential funds removed by the House were not put back in the final version.
READ: Removed secret funds less likely to be restored in bicam level — Angara
This means the confidential funds (CF) of civilian agencies that did not have a mandate to investigate or do surveillance were realigned to offices designated to secure the West Philippine Sea.
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House gives zero confidential funds to OVP, DepEd, DICT, DFA, DA