The bicameral conference committee for next year’s national budget on Friday authorized the heads of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations and Senate committee on finance to meet one-on-one to resolve the conflicting provisions of the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget.
This developed even as Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters Friday the House under his leadership would maintain a no-insertions, no pork and no parking policy during the bicameral conference committee.
“As far as the House is concerned, the 2020 budget passed by the chamber contains no pork barrel by way of project insertions or parked funds,” Cayetano said.
“But still, the chamber is open to changes for the good of the country that will be benefited by the increase of funds by certain agencies.
House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, led the House contingent in seconding the motion of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to allow Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, who heads the House committee on appropriations, and Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, to meet and resolve by themselves the disagreeing provisions of the 2020 national budget.
“We authorize them [Ungab and Angara] to meet one-on-one to address the conflicting provisions of the national budget for next year. This will help expedite the approval of our money measure, said Romualdez after members of the bicameral conference committee met Friday at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City to reconcile the 2020 national budget.
“Let me reiterate: the money measure that we passed under the leadership of Speaker Cayetano will marshal a budget for a meaningful change and a reflection not only of the Presidentç—´ vision to make the life of Filipinos better, but also of the peopleç—´ will, Romualdez said.
In his motion, Lagman, an independent minority congressman, said his proposal was “consistent with tradition.”
“I move that the bicameral conference committee authorize the chairman of the Senate panel and the chairman of the House panel to meet one-on-one and then amicably resolve the differing provisions of the Senate version as well as the House version, and also consider possible amendments not yet included in the House version and the Senate, Lagman told the members of the bicameral conference committee.
Ungab and Angara will take the lead in reviewing the realignments made by the House and the Senate under the 2020 national budget before the whole bicameral conference committee meets again tentatively on Dec. 3.
“Our collective decision is part of the normal process in the bicameral conference committee, Ungab said.
