House budget talks continue but staffers can be excused due to floods

House of Representatives plenary. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Budget deliberations at the House of Representatives on Monday continued despite the government suspending work and school due to rains and floods, with the Department of Education (DepEd) presenting their proposed expenditures for 2025.

However, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco assured staffers and employees affected by the flood that they could be excused for not physically reporting on Monday.

READ: Government work suspended in Metro Manila due to TS Enteng – Palace 

“We are monitoring the weather disturbance but we will allow HRep staff and employees, who are unable to report for work due to flooding, to be excused from work today,” Velasco said in a message to reporters.

Earlier, Malacañang through the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that classes in all levels, both public and private in Metro Manila are suspended due to the rains spawned by Tropical Storm Enteng.

Eventually, the Office of the Executive Secretary announced that work in government offices was also suspended.

READ: Government work suspended in Metro Manila due to TS Enteng – Palace 

The House committee on appropriations, however, resumed its deliberations on the 2025 National Expenditures Program, with the DepEd taking its turn to present its proposed budget.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara was present to defend DepEd’s budget, which is at P793.1 billion — higher than the P762.0 billion provided by the executive in 2024, and the P699.6 billion in 2023.