Senate to finish debates on budget

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will hold sessions today and tomorrow to try to finish plenary debates on the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget for 2018 to make up for lost session days owing to the country’s hosting of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the chamber aims to end interpellations on the proposed budget this week and proceed to approving it next week.

“Budget interpellations should be finished by Friday,” Pimentel told reporters, adding the proposed spending program should be approved by the Senate by Wednesday.

After passage of the budget, the senators will deliberate on the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), a priority fiscal measure of the Duterte administration.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the ways and means committee, earlier said it would be difficult but the Senate will try to pass the TRAIN before yearend.

Angara said many of his colleagues have been submitting proposed amendments to the tax measure that is projected to raise some P148 billion in revenues.

Angara said the realistic timetable is for the Senate to pass the TRAIN in January.

Recto said the rehabilitation of Marawi City is putting a lot of pressure on the government financially as well as additional requirements to upgrade the capability of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police in light of increased terror threats, among many other new fiscal requirements.