The House of Representatives is set to approve the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget on third and final reading on Wednesday after two weeks of plenary debates.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday said Congress is adhering to its plenary deliberation-approval timeline “because we are treating the national spending program with urgency without sacrificing transparency.”
The approval of the outlay before Congress goes on recess next weekend would give the Senate enough time for its own debate-passage process, he said.
“We have sufficient time to finally agree on the budget before yearend. It is the most important piece of legislation Congress passes every year,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House said.
“Next year’s spending legislation will serve as our tool for sustained economic development. It will support the Agenda for Prosperity programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”
The budget would also “serve as an instrument for the government to spread the dividends of economic progress through various social protection and financial assistance initiatives, and funding for infrastructure, such as roads, hospitals, classrooms, seaports and airports irrigation systems and transportation networks, he emphasized.
“We hope our people will feel the benefits of growth through the programs intended for them in the national budget,” he noted.
He thanked the committee on appropriations led by its chairman, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and senior vice chairperson Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo for enduring the 2025 spending bill on time.
Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, committee on rules chairperson, said the Chief Executive is expected to certify the proposed 2025 as urgent.
The certification would enable Congress to approve the 2024 General Appropriations Bill on both second and final reading on the same day.
Scheduled to be taken up today up to Wednesday are the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Health, Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Civil Service Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Commission on Audit, Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Congress, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education and several executive offices.
Before Wednesday’s budget approval, the House would hear Turno En Contra remarks by those opposed to the outlay, followed by the period of amendments.
Due to expected numerous amendment suggestions, the House is expected to create a small committee to take charge of the proposals.
The Speaker may address his colleagues before the first recess of the third and last regular session of the 19th Congress starts next weekend.
The House has been conducting marathon sessions every day since last Monday starting at 10 a.m. It extended its proceedings to Thursday and Friday last week to meet its plenary debate-approval deadline.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “House to approve P6.5-t budget for 2025 this week”
