/PNA
MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda is eyeing the ratification of the proposed 2019 PHP3.757-trillion national budget by Friday (February 8).
Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said the final bicameral conference meeting between her and House appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. is set on Wednesday.
“Congressman Andaya and I agreed to meet on Wednesday, in the morning, so that we can finalize it for a targeted ratification on Friday at the latest,” Legarda said during Monday’s plenary session.
Legarda noted that the technical staff of both the House and of the Senate are already working on the “fine print and details” of the reconciled version of the spending bill.
Legarda said it is possible to hold a session for ratification on Friday.
Based on the legislative calendar, the last day of session is on February 8 before Congress adjourns for the campaign season.
Currently, the government has started operating under a reenacted budget since January 1 this year.
Congress failed to pass the national budget before the end of 2018 because of allegations of “pork” insertions.
