Palace confirms nat’l budget bill certified urgent

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that the general appropriations bill has been certified as urgent by President Benigno Aquino III.

The P2.6 trillion 2015 national budget bill is expected to be passed on third and final reading on Wednesday.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 26 (2) of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of House Bill. No. 4968,” Aquino said in separate letters, dated October 23, addressed to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

He said the immediate passage will “ensure budgetary preparedness that will enable the government to effectively perform its constitutional mandate of funding various programs, projects and activities for FY 2015, and in order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year.”

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