House eyes OK of P3-T 2016 budget next week

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives aims to pass on second reading on Friday next week the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 before Congress takes a break for the filing of certificates of candidacy by those seeking elective posts next year.

The House began plenary debates on the proposed expenditure program on Monday, with Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab sponsoring the measure on the floor.

“The congressional power of the purse comes with the responsibility not only of ensuring that every public peso is spent within means, in the right priorities and with measurable results, particularly in fostering inclusive development, but also of passing the budget bill on time – delaying the passage of the budget bill will mean delaying our country’s forward move towards the achievement of our national development goals,” Ungab said.

The House takes a break on Oct. 10 until Nov. 3. After the recess, the lawmakers are expected to pass the budget measure on third and final reading.

The proposed 2016 budget is 15.2 percent or P396 billion more than the 2015 expenditure program. It corresponds to 19.5 percent of gross domestic product, up from 18.7 percent of GDP in 2015.

On Monday, the House was able to finish deliberations on the proposed budget of the Department of Finance.

Yesterday, the plenary tackled the appropriations for the Departments of Agrarian Reform, and Science and Technology.

Based on the House schedule, the proposed outlays of the Commissions on Elections, Human Rights, Civil Service, the Department of Energy and the Office of the Ombudsman are scheduled to be taken up today.

On Thursday, the proposed budgets of the Department of Labor and Employment and some agencies under the Office of the President will be taken up.

The proposed budgets of state universities and colleges, the Office of the President, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management will be tackled in the plenary.