Senate to Pass Proposed 2017 National Budget on Monday

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday said that he expects the Senate to pass the proposed 2017 national budget of Php 3.35 trillion on its third and final reading on Monday (Nov 28).

“We hope that by Monday it’s approved on its third and final reading. That’s the plan,” Pimentel told reporters admitting that it was already one week late.

Last Oct. 19, the House of Representatives (HoR) approved on third and final reading the proposed national budget for 2017.

A bicameral committee meeting is expected to begin this month, followed by the budget approval before Congress goes on Christmas break in December.

“Definitely there will be differences in the bicam,” he said but expressed hope the provisions would be quickly ironed out.

Pimentel said that although the approval of the budget would come in late, “it is better to have an improved budget though late than a budget with a lot of questionable items.”

The proposed Php 3.35-trillion national budget for 2017 is 11.6-percent increase from Php 3.002-trillion budget for 2016.

It represents a 20.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017, higher than the 20.1 percent GDP share this year.

According to the National Expenditure Program (NEP), Social Services will have the highest share of the budget in terms of budget distribution by sector at 40 percent. (PNA)RMA/ANP