By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
The Senate on Tuesday approved House Bill 10800 or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which will allocate a P6.352-trillion national budget for next year.
With 18 affirmative votes, zero negative, and one abstention, the 2025 GAB is now set to be discussed in a bicameral conference between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Among those who voted in favor of the HB 10800 are Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Christopher Lawrence Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Robinhood Padilla, Ramon Revilla Jr., Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Grace Poe, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, and Senate President Francis Escudero.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III abstained.
In her manifestation, Poe assured that the senators scrutinized thoroughly the Senate’s version of the 2025 GAB.
“Ngayon, habang tinatapos na natin ang prosesong ito, buong kumpiyansa kong masasabi na tinupad natin ang ating pangako. Bawat desisyon ay binusisi. Bawat pondo ay siniguradong may tamang layunin,” Poe, sponsor of the 2025 GAB, said.
“Ang bawat pisong iniukol natin sa budget na ito ay hindi lamang numero sa papel. Ito ay buhay, pangarap, kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino. Sa bawat sektor na ating sinuportahan, mula agrikultura hanggang edukasyon, mula kalusugan hanggang seguridad, ay kalakip ang ating pangako sa taumbayan na walang maiiwan at walang mapapabayaan sa abot ng ating makakaya,” she added.
In an earlier statement, Escudero expressed confidence that Congress can pass the 2025 GAB before it adjourns on Dec. 20.
He said it would be approved and sent to Malacañang for the signing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. into law in the first week of December at the earliest or the second week of December at the latest.
Escudero also expects the bicameral conference to last for two weeks.