TOP leaders of the House committee on appropriations on Tuesday praised the minority bloc headed by 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan for playing its role as effective fiscalizers during the deliberations on the proposed 2023 national budget, which has entered its fifth week.

During the Ugnayan sa Batasan News Forum, Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior vice chairperson of the panel, said the committee chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is right on track on its schedule to pass the national budget on third and final reading this Wednesday.

“So far, our strategies in time management and maximizing communication channels between House members and agencies have been effective. As we conclude the second phase of the budget process in Congress, the commitment of the members to pass the GAB (General Appropriations Bill) on time is still unwavering,” Quimbo quoted Co as saying.

“Since the debates started, the members have been staying in the plenary from morning ‘till night and we’ll continue to do so – kahit abutin pa ng hating gabi para matapos ang lahat ng ahensiya. Dagdag pa rito, ang majority ay naging masugid na sponsors ng budget ng mga ahensya habang ang minority naman ay naging epektibong fiscalizers upang masigurong maayos na nakikilatis ang proposed budget,” Co was further quoted.

On Monday night, Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said “We are right on track with our schedule. The certification from Malacañang will enable the House of Representatives to approve the 2023 GAB on second and third reading on the same day which we set on Wednesday.”

Members of the minority bloc, who include the Makabayan lawmakers, have tirelessly scrutinized the details of the P5.268-trillion GAB even since the start of the per agency budget deliberations by the appropriations panel in late August.

This active participation from the minority carried over to the sponsorship and plenary debates phase, which began last week.

“There may still be a lot of concerns that we need to address, but I believe that the members are anchored to the same vision of passing a budget that is aligned with the needs of the districts and the marginalized sectors,” Quimbo quoted Co.

Quimbo said the plenary debates will end Wednesday, September 28 if all goes to plan.

“Tomorrow, we are expecting to wrap up the plenary debates for the 2023 National Budget. It is the second stage of the budget process where Congress members dedicate another pair of eyes to review the proposed budget,” she said.

“So far, we have terminated the debates for 61 agencies and constitutional bodies (as of 12 Tuesday afternoon, leaving us with 14 more to deliberate,” said Quimbo.

“It is vital that the President has certified the immediate enactment of the 2023 GAB. Usually, bills go through three independent readings on three separate days. With the President’s certification of urgency, mapapabilis ang proseso dahil hindi na kinakailangan ng hiwalay na second at third reading,” she added.

The Marikina lawmaker was referring to the 2023 GAB’s certification as urgent by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday.

The second and third reading approval of the GAB by the House is also expected to take place Wednesday.

The target is to pass the 2023 GAA (General Appropriations Act) by the end of this year to avoid having a re-enacted budget. Kapag re-enacted ang budget, hindi mapopondohan ang mga bagong proyekto at programa. Mahirap ito lalo na para sa mga proyektong time sensitive tulad ng infrastructure construction. Hindi rin mae-expand ang mga programa para sa ayuda at health services na susi sa pagbangon natin mula sa pandemya,” she said.