The Senate unanimously approved on third and final reading last night the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for next year which is expected to be signed into law by President Duterte on Dec. 19.
Sixteen senators present in yesterday’s session voted to unanimously approve the measure. There were no negative votes.
Sen. Loren B. Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee who shepherded the passage of a House bill containing the General Appropriations Act next year on the Senate floor, said she expects that any contentious issue in the budget would be settled during the Senate bicameral conference meeting with their House of Representatives counterparts today despite being a regular holiday.
Loren said she expects Duterte to sign the 2018 GAA into law days five days after the Senate and the House go on a Christmas break starting Dec. 14. She described the proposed as a “compassionate budget that addresses the needs of the people.’’
The GAA consists of P2.78 trillion in programmed funds, P2.27 for various departments, P508.8 billion in special purpose funds, and P75.3 billion in un-programmed funds. (Mario B. Casayuran and Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola)