Senate beats break, OKs P3-T budget

WITH only two session days left before Congress goes on its final break for the year, the Senate on Monday ratified the P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.

The ratification of the proposed General Appropriations Act of 2016 was swift with all 15 senators present in the upper chamber voting for it after Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the finance committee, presented the reconciled Senate and House versions.

Sen. Francis Escudero stood up after the vote to say that he would explain his vote in writing.

Escudero used to be the finance committee chair but resigned in the middle of this year shortly after announcing he was running for Vice President in tandem with presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe in next year’s elections.

The Senate ratification of the 2016 national budget came on the eve of the last session day of Congress before it goes on a holiday break.

Despite its tight schedule, the Senate was also able to approve several measures on third and final reading.

These included tax treaties of the country with Italy, Germany and Turkey which Sen. Sonny Angara said would help mitigate instances of double taxation—“a situation in which both countries levy taxes on the same income.”

Also receiving final approval were a bill granting retirement benefits to barangay officials and workers currently receiving minimal benefits and a measure lowering the retirement age of surface mine workers (from 60 to 50 years old) and horse jockeys (from 60 to 55 years old).