Senate to tackle budget today

The Senate is set to start tackling the proposed P864-billion 2004 national budget today.

Deliberations on the measure will begin with a sponsorship speech by finance committee chairman Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

Senators are allotting five days for debates and approval of the budget, which is considered the most important piece of legislation that lawmakers enact each year.

On Friday, they are scheduled to pass the measure on third and final reading so it can be sent to a Senate-House conference committee that will determine its final shape.

The final version will then be printed before the two chambers vote on it separately. They have only until Feb. 6 to finally approve it.

Senate President Franklin Drilon assured the nation yesterday that it will have a budget for this year before Congress adjourns for the election campaign on Feb. 6.

Drilon said the budget has to be enacted so the coming elections can proceed as scheduled because the measure allots more funds for the May balloting.

It also appropriates billions for the salary upgrading of members of the Armed Forces, he said.

The Senate received the budget from the House of Representatives during last month’s Christmas break. It was referred to the Villar committee last Monday.

The committee is not expected to recommend major changes in the House-approved version.

A third of the annual outlay goes to servicing the nation’s huge debt. Nearly another third goes to salaries and more than P100 billion to local government units.

Billions are also set aside for the congressional pork barrel, which allots P200 million for each senator and at least P50 million for each House member.

Revenues to fund this year’s budget are short by about P200 billion, an amount that would be raised through borrowings.

While Congress is in the process of passing the budget, the government is operating on the basis of the reenacted 2003 outlay. – Jess Diaz