The leaders of both chambers of the 19th Congress assured Wednesday the timely enactment of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) before the holiday break to ensure smooth implementation of government projects and public services.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero gave this joint statement during a press briefing in Malacañang following the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting with President Marcos.
Romualdez told reporters he is “confident” that his colleagues in the lower chamber would be able to pass House Bill 10800 or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) by tonight. Lawmakers in the Batasan Pambansa are currently holding the last day of plenary sessions for the budget.
“Tonight, we will pass it (GAB) on third and final reading and (it will be) ready for transmission to the Senate. This is the most important legislation for Congress. I am confident we will get it done by tonight because Malacañang certified it as urgent… That will be done,” he told reporters.
Romualdez refused to comment on the issues surrounding budget deliberations for the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President amid the decision of Vice President Sara Duterte to stop participating in the process, which he respects.
When asked about the resignation calls made by some of his colleagues towards the Vice President, Romualdez advised both the media and the public to focus on the actions of the House of Representatives as a whole, instead of listening to the individual opinions of some lawmakers.
“All congressmen have ideas, opinions. But before tonight ends, we will come to a resolution and that would be the act of the plenary. So, instead of listening to individual opinions or comments… As you know, in Congress, we act as a collegiate body,” he said.
Romualdez reported that the House of Representatives have already passed all but two of the priority legislations of President Marcos. Pending bills include amendments to the Foreign Investor Long-Term Lease Act and the Agrarian Reform Law.
Escudero, for his part, said the same proposed measures are also pending in the Senate. He added they are likewise still working on amendments to the Universal Healthcare Law, the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), and the bill creating the Department of Water Resources.
The Senate President said he is looking forward to the transmission of the approved GAB from the House of Representatives, so the senators could start their own deliberations on the proposed national budget for 2025 within the 41 remaining session days.
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