Senate deliberates on P1.8Tr budget for 2012

Senator Franklin Drilon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has started holding morning plenary sessions to speed up the passage of the proposed P1.816 trillion national budget for 2012.

And by Friday, Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the committee on finance, hopes that the chamber should be able to finish the plenary debates on the General Appropriations Act for 2012 and then vote on it on third and final reading on Monday next week.

“We are targeting finishing the debates on Nov. 18, and approve the budget on third and final reading on Nov. 21,” Drilon said in a statement Tuesday.

And a bicameral conference committee may be called from November 23 to 28 to reconcile disagreements between the versions of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Drilon expressed hope that Congress could complete the deliberation of the proposed budget and submit it for the approval of the President before the Christmas holidays.

He described the proposed 2012 appropriation as a “Results-focused budget” upholding President Benigno Aquino III’s priorities.

The 2012 budget, Drilon said, would also serve as the lifeblood that would sustain the national economy and the fuel that would rev up the nation’s engine of growth as the Aquino administration implemented reform measures to curb graft and corruption in public service.

The proposed outlay will also support a rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth by increasing allocations for infrastructure services such as irrigation systems and farm-to-market roads that will spur agribusiness and the roads to tourism destinations, the senator added.