MANILA -- The House of Representatives is targeting to approve the proposed 2019 PHP3.757-trillion national budget on third and final reading on November 28.
House appropriations committee vice chairperson Maria Carmen Zamora said on Monday the panel is currently finalizing the amendments to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
"We're at the final stages of reconciling differences and amendments to the budget, and after that we need to get the budget printed," Zamora said in a text message.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Prospero Pichay Jr. said the lower chamber is open to the idea of extending sessions until the third week of December to approve the national budget for next year. The proposal to extend sessions was pitched by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Under the legislative calendar, Congress is set to adjourn on December 15.
"Well, if they extend, so we also extend dahil aantayin natin matapos yung bicam (because we have to wait for the bicameral conference committee to finish). Pagkatapos ng bicam kailangan mapirmahan ng Pangulo para hindi natin ma-re-enact yung budget (Once the bicam is done, the President has to sign it to avoid a reenacted budget)," Pichay said.
"Our target for third reading is November 28 and we expect plenary approval by then," she added.
Majority Rolando Andaya earlier gave his assurance to the Senate that the national budget for 2019 will be transmitted as soon as the lower chamber is done with its "rigorous double-checking and verification" processes.
Andaya also reiterated the House's stance against a reenacted budget, noting that there is enough time to finish the proposed budget.
"We are committed to a budget that will be 100 percent compliant with the rules of Congress, with all the laws on budgeting, and with the jurisprudence on appropriations," he added.
The House of Representatives approved the GAB on second reading in October. (PNA)
