The Senate started holding morning sessions on Monday to tackle the proposed national budget in 2016 and ensure its passage before the year ends.
Among the items for plenary discussion were the proposed budgets for the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Justice, Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Also set for discussion were the budgets for the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Health, Department of Foreign Affairs, Commission on Audit, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Senators earlier agreed in a caucus to start plenary debates on the budget last November 16 but postponed it for another week due to work disruption brought by the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings in Manila.
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During the caucus, the senators agreed to approve the budget on second and third reading by November 26 and bicameral conference meeting from November 28 to December 1 and have the bicam report approved on December 8, 2015.