MANILA -- Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Monday said there is no “reorganization” of chairmanship for the House appropriations committee as the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2019 national budget will push through.
Andaya made the statement amid reports that Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles would be ousted as appropriations committee chairman.
“There is no reorganization. The plenary debates will begin at the scheduled time. Business as usual,” Andaya said, noting that Nograles will be sponsoring House Bill 8169 or the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
The plenary debates on the 2019 national budget were slated to start on Monday.
Andaya said the House would make good on its earlier promise to pass the GAB before Congress goes on a month-long Halloween break, starting Oct. 13.
“The House leadership has made a commitment to wrap up the deliberations on the proposed budget before the October break,” Andaya said.
Andaya noted that the House leadership has even requested the Commission on Elections to reschedule the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections so that the lower chamber can focus on its legislative priorities, including the proposed 2019 PHP3.757-trillion national budget.
“Aside from legislative work, we want to concentrate on budget deliberations to pass the GAA (General Appropriations Act) before the onset of the election campaign period,” he said. (PNA)
