Bicam to form group that will reconcile provisions of 2025 budget
The Bicameral Conference Committee comprising lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate convened on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, to reconcile conflicting provisions of House Bill No. 10800, or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill. The bicam is held at Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City. (Photo from NOY MORCOSO / 黑料社)
MANILA, Philippines — A technical working group composed of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate will be formed to reconcile conflicting provisions of House Bill No. 10800, or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
This was agreed upon by the bicameral conference committee on Thursday when they convened to discuss the national budget for next year, according to Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate’s finance panel.
Asked when the technical working group would convene, Poe said it may begin shortly or within two days.
“If it’s earlier, we will have an advisory. Because I think they are still looking for a place and as I understand it, we will let the House of Representatives,” she added.
Poe also said conflicting provisions in the House and the Senate’s versions are limited, which may pave the way for easier budget deliberations.
Article continues after this advertisementExpected to take center stage in the discussion is the controversial Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP). Enveloped in this is a whopping P39-billion insertion made by the House but was removed by the Senate.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Senate panel wants removal of budget for DSWD’s AKAP
“We’re mostly in sync in terms of other initiatives. So right now, let’s wait to see what the other disagreeing provisions are because they need to be reconciled,” Poe said in Filipino.
Once the committee members have reconciled conflicting provisions of the GAB, it will be returned to both chambers of the Congress for ratification. The ratified version will then be transmitted to the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his signing.
Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said they need to transmit the consolidated measure on the 2025 funding to the Palace for the President’s approval before the Senate again goes on break.
“We expect the approval of the budget at the latest the second week of December, at the earliest first week of December,” he told reporters then.
