THE House of Representatives was given five weeks to pass the proposed 2024 national budget amounting to P5.768T 2024.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez gave this order to the House Committee on Appropriations, however, the members should observe transparency and respect for the voice of the minority.

In his message during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing, Romualdez reiterated that the House will ensure every centavo of the proposed P5.768 trillion budget will be judiciously spent.

The Speaker expressed confidence the House will be able to pass the proposed 2024 budget on time, noting the Department of Budget and Management managed to submit it twenty days earlier than the constitutional deadline.

“Sisiguruhin natin na maipapasa natin ang 2024 general appropriations bill sa loob ng limang linggo lamang. Apat na linggo sa mga komite, at isang linggo sa plenaryo,” Romualdez said.

“I am confident that the House of Representatives will be able to deliberate and pass the national budget on time and transmit the same to the Senate. I can assure everyone that the House of Representatives will not take a break until and unless we have passed this very important legislation,” he added.

Given the 5-week deadline, Romualdez exhorted all House Members to actively participate in the budget deliberations.

“I call upon the members of this august body to actively participate in the budget deliberation, listen and respect everyone’s view, particularly the concerns of our colleagues from the minority, and reach a consensus that is beneficial to the country, especially the poor and marginalized among our people,” he said.

Romualdez stressed that in its exercise of the power of the purse, it is the duty of the House to completely scrutinize the proposed 2024 national budget to ensure it would sustain the gains of the past year and support the priorities identified under the eight-point socioeconomic agenda and the Philippine development plan 2023-2028.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas