Congress resumes session; senators hold caucus

MANILA, Philippines — As Congress resumes its second regular session, senators held an all-member caucus to discuss issues including the P5.768-trillion proposed national budget for 2024.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the senators will start on Wednesday morning the deliberations on the 2024 proposed budget to ensure its timely passage before Congress goes on Christmas break on Dec. 15. The Senate will have six weeks to tackle the budget.

During the plenary, Villanueva moved for the suspension of session for the all-member caucus and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri banged the gavel to suspend the proceedings.

When asked by reporters through Viber about the agenda of the all-member caucus, Villanueva replied: “National budget deliberation among others.”

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III earlier appealed to his colleagues to ensure the proper phasing of the deliberation and eventual approval of next year’s budget to give the minority bloc ample time to scrutinize the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or the proposed national expenditure.

During Congress’ joint session, the House of Representatives formally transmitted to the Senate its approved version of the 2024 GAB.

In the House version of the proposed 2024 national budget, House Bill 8980 re-allocated P194 billion in line items, including P1.23 billion in confidential funds.

After receiving the approved version of the 2024 GAB, Zubiri made a commitment that the Senate would pass the GAB by the first week of December.

Pimentel noted that the minority bloc is not alone in scrutinizing the national budget process, but also the people who have the right to know how their money is appropriated.

He said he would also appeal to Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, not to rush the passage of the 2024 national budget proposal.

Traditionally, senators deliberate on the national budget until the wee hours to ensure its timely passage and prevent a re-enacted budget for the coming year.

Pimentel said he would suggest conducting the budget debates phase-by-phase to prevent them from cramming.

Before going on caucus yesterday, senators approved on third and final reading five proposed measures, including Senate Bill 2426 or an act mandating the formulation, funding, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a comprehensive and multi-year “Tatak Pinoy” (proudly Filipino) strategy, establishing a Tatak Pinoy Council, authored by Angara.

Aside from the Tatak Pinoy, senators also voted for the approval of House bills renaming the Bohol island circumferential road, on Urdaneta City and Tambacan Bridge and naming Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella Highway.