Plenaries wont

irnpbde budget i

By Keith Galayag l

To speed up deliberations on the 2020 I

national budget and have it approved before

'the turn of the year, the ltouse
Cornmiitee
on Appropriations wili condu*t f,e"ring;;;;;
during plendry sessions.
House Mqiority Leader Leyte Rep. Martin ililm phmiinms i rnuRsDAy 22 Aucusr:i'big

Plenaries won't impede budget

Last Tuesday, the chamber .appl.oved on third and measurds, will push through even tobacco products.
,l
Elqrress Iane
final reading the bill which seeks to increase excise as we are working round the clock Section 7l of the llouse rules "Underthe rules, the Committee
on the budget bill," Romualdez states that congressmen ,are qr Appropriations inay -continuej
tax imposed on alcohol and heated tobacco products
added. deemed present in a House with their budget hearings while
session if they are attending the House is in plenary session,'
,ftutt page, Romualdez said'he had Tax bills first committee meetings authorized Romuatdez said.
approved the request of House House leaders, including by the House Committee on I

Romualdez approved the Committee on Appropriations Romualdez, earliervofred to pass Rules, which is.currently chaiied Vitat revenue measures 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and l:30 p.m.,"'
reQuest of the House panel chairman Davao CiW.Rep. Isidro the priority revenue' measures by Romualdez. will push through even as the House leader said.' I

for contiriuous hearings a day
after the chamb*. ,rrJiu.A tnl
National Expenditure Program
(NEP) that contains details of
the proppsed P4,1 trillion 2020
Ungab for the holding of budget
hearings simultaneous with plenary
sessions attended bythe mqiority of
members of the chamber.
uThis
will ensure that plenary
of the administration before the
2020 budget is passed.
Just last Tuesday, t'he
chamber approved on'third
and final reading the bill which
section 35 0f the same rule
stated that "only the Comrnittee
on Rules and such committees to
which it has granted permission,
may meet while the House is in
the House works round the "This will give the Senate
elock on the,budget bill. ample time to scrutinize the
t
budget approved by the House.i
uWe
are irwoking the powers i
Hopefully, we can have a
bicameral conference early
of the Meionty Leader, as rules

,'ff;ffi"ffi
I

hudget'f,rom the Office of the deliberations on other pending seeks to increase excise tax plenary session, has adiourned, .R\t',.. December, then approve
President. issues, such as the vital i.uunu6 imposed on alcohol and heated or is in recess.' i the 2020 national budget i

the House to tackle simultaneously gbefore the year ends,'he

{ zmDT }cAq€/ all the vital measures included in
the President's legislative agenda,'
1

I
added.
Romu aldezl
he added. I
said starting 12 |

Homualdez also bared that I

September, the
House members agreed to move plenary sessions
its plenary session from 3 P.m. will be held even
to 5 p.m. every daY to make room on firursdays and
for four committee hearings Fridays'to ensure
darh l
the timely
iWe will hold four budget of the bud$et.
heaiings daily at the committee Hamneel
level almost simultaneouslY. The,
hearings are scheduled at I a.m., I