MANILA — A sub-panel of the House Committee on Appropriations, which receives and reviews requests from government agencies for amendments to the proposed 2027 national budget, is expected to convene this week, according to two House leaders.
The Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) will tackle the proposed institutional amendments and come up with a recommendation, which will have to be approved by the Appropriations panel, before it is introduced to the House plenary, according to House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
He and House Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez said the lower chamber is expected to approve on final reading its version of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (HGAB) next week, no later than October 9th.
“Within the week, magba-BARSc na po kami. And hopefully by next week, second reading, and before the session ends, that’s the third reading. We are on time. On time po kami,” Hernandez said.
“Wala pong marching order si Speaker. We stick to the schedule na ipasa ‘yung budget, na hindi ito maantala, dahil napakaimportante po mapasa ‘yung budget on time… Ang importante we follow the law, we make it transparent, and pass it on time,” he added.
“We expect naman po the BARSc will come out with the recommendation due for plenary adoption next week. So we still have time, in fact ample time, para po mag-submit ang BARSc ng kanilang proposed amendment and then by that time ma-approve na po natin on the last day of session itong ating HGAB,” Adiong, for his part, said.
House bill on proposed 2027 budget approved at committee level without amendments
Asked whether the House will entertain budget amendment proposals from members during the period of amendments for the 2027 budget bill, Hernandez and Adiong gave these responses.
“I don’t think we can stop any congressman na mag-introduce ng amendment… For as long as it’s transparent and above board, wala naman pong problema dyan,” Hernandez said.
“Plenary po ‘yun. Ang gagawin lang po sa BARSc ay an institutional amendment, as to the need to increase budget or reduce budget of each individual department based also from their submitted request,” Adiong added.
They both expressed support for institutionalizing the open bicameral conference committee talks on the proposed national budget.
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