Legarda Eyes Early Passage of 2018 GAA

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, today said she is optimistic about the early passage of the 2018 national budget, stressing that the Senate has been conducting marathon hearings to finish discussions of all government agencies’ budgets on time.

Legarda however said that the early approval of the budget would also depend on the prompt transmittal of the 2018 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) from the House of Representatives to the Senate.

“We want to finish the budget ahead of the usual schedule, but we can only commit to the Senate’s approval on third reading of the 2018 GAB before the adjournment of session in October if the House of Representatives is able to transmit to us the GAB by September 21,” she stressed.

“The early passage of the proposed PhP3.767 trillion national budget for 2018 will ensure continuity of ongoing programs and immediate implementation of new ones by government agencies. When the budget is approved early, it allows for a more efficient delivery of services by the government,” she added.

Legarda explained that if the GAB is transmitted to the Senate bySeptember 21, the Senate would have three weeks to deliberate on the House version and approve on second and third reading before the session adjourns on October 11, 2017 for a one-month break.

Once approved by the Senate on third and final reading, a bicameral conference committee report shall be prepared for approval of both chambers when session resumes, before transmittal to the President for signing as the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA).