House leader wants budget hearing by Aug. 22

MANILA—The chairman of the House committee on appropriations said he wants to start the hearings for the allotment of the 2017 national budget by Aug. 22, in order to ensure its timely approval before the end of the year.

Davao City 1st District Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles who heads the panel said the house leadership already assured him that they will proritize the organization of the committee to start the budget hearings.

Nograles was appointed as the chairman of the said committee last week but its vice-chairman and 125 members are yet to be named.

“Hopefully by Aug., we can already start our hearings on the national budget. Hopefully by that time, we’ve been fully organized in the Committee on Appropriations,” he said.