Angara, Yap decide GAB
They have designated Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara and his House counterpart, House Committee on Appropriations chair Eric Yap, to talk about the details of the 2021 GAB
The fate of the 2021 national budget rests in the hands of two leaders from the Senate and the House of Representatives, again.
Like last year, the two Houses’ representatives in the bicameral committee who are supposed to deliberate on the 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) have agreed to hold “chair-to-chair” sessions to thresh out the differences in their versions of the measure.
They have designated Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara and his House counterpart, House Committee on Appropriations chair Eric Yap, to talk about the details of the 2021 GAB.
This was proposed by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, who moved to appoint Yap to discuss budget amendments with Angara during their meeting at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Friday.
Their talk did not last an hour.
House Deputy Speaker Michael Romero and Senators Joel Villanueva and Sherwin Gatchalian seconded the motion.
This means the senators and congressmen would only need to submit to Angara and Yap all amendments they wish to include in the final version of the 2021 GAB.
Some of those present were Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno, Abra Rep. Joseph “JB” Bernos, Minority Leader Stephen “Caraps” Paduano and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
Senators Pia Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian and Ramon Revilla Jr. came with Angara.
All I see are Multi-Purpose Buildings that can be converted into quarantine facilities. I see a budget for building necessary infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. The rest are road networks, valid projects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program.
They aim to submit the GAB on 19 December for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature. Its ratification would likely be next week.
“Our goal is to finish the budget this week, by Friday. Our goal is ultimately the same: To have appropriate funding for COVID-19 vaccines and to allocate budget for regions severely affected by calamities,” Yap said.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco will not actively take part in introducing amendments to the GAB, but the House leader requested a P5 billion increase to the calamity fund for the rehabilitation of typhoon-hit communities.
If accommodated, this would be on top of the current P20 billion allocation for the calamity budget under the House-approved version of the bill.
Velasco, moreover, requested for an increased budget for the procurement of vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Congress would only publicize the measure once signed by President Duterte. “We won’t publicize our day-to-day (resolutions), so we could finish the measure efficiently and ensure that in the end the (Filipino) people would come out on top,” Yap assured.
He also reiterated that there are “no irregularities” in the 2021 GAB, particularly on allocations for Department of Public Works and Highways in different legislative districts.
“All I see are Multi-Purpose Buildings that can be converted into quarantine facilities. I see a budget for building necessary infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. The rest are road networks, valid projects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” Yap stressed.
“We pledge to consult with them (bicam members) on the results of the discussions,” Angara, meanwhile, said.
Our goal is to finish the budget this week, by Friday. Our goal is ultimately the same: To have appropriate funding for COVID-19 vaccines and to allocate budget for regions severely affected by calamities.
“The Senate usually makes extensive changes in the General Appropriations Bill, so I think we have to get to work. What’s good here is we are one in talks about the COVID response, vaccine and health programs,” he added.
Angara also disclosed that the Senate will also push for the National Broadband Program and other Internet infrastructure.
For the infrastructure funding, Angara said the allocation per district will be an “internal matter” for the House of Representatives, noting that there has been always “an amicable agreement with the (House) leadership and the members.”
Although he said it’s “tricky” to set a timeline on the passage of the 2021 national budget, Angara expressed confidence that the country will not operate under a reenacted budget.