Deliberations on P2-trillion national budget continue Thursday

The House committee on appropriations and officials meet to thresh out details on the P2.006 trillion proposed national budget for 2013 at the Andaya Hall in Batasan Complex. KAREN BONCOCAN/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Committee level deliberations on the proposed P2.006 trillion national budget for 2013 will continue Thursday morning at the House of Representatives.

Next year’s budget, higher by 10.5 percent compared to the 2012 national budget, is being scrutinized by the House committee on appropriations led by its chair Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Margarita Juico and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chair Cristino Naguiat Jr. have been invited for discussions during the morning while Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes is expected to appear before the panel in the afternoon.

Discussions at the committee level is expected to last throughout the entire month of August after which the proposed national budget will undergo plenary deliberation.