Bicam starts discussions on P6.352T budget bill

THE bicameral conference committee has started discussions at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City to reconcile the differing versions of the proposed 2025 P6.352 trillion General Appropriations Bill from the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Sen. Grace Poe chairs the Senate contingent in the bicam, while Rep. Zaldy Co, the House Committee on Appropriations chairman, leads the House contingent. Also included in the contingents of the two chambers are Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez. At the start of the bicam, Poe said the aim is to pass a national budget that is balanced, reasonable, and pro-people. Poe appealed not to take themselves too seriously, saying that it would be better to take a coffee break first and then resolve the differences when the budget discussion heats up. Poe is hopeful that a few differing provisions will be agreed upon under the bicameral conference committee. Both chambers have agreed to form a technical working group (TWG) to discuss the disputed provisions in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Poe said the group will reconcile or agree on the differences in the provisions of the Senate and House versions of the budget proposal. She is confident that the lawmakers must agree on only a few significant or big differences, such as the DSWD's Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP). Poe said that many initiatives are similar, and they will look at the differences that need to be reconciled. The bicameral conference expects to approve the reconciled version of the 2025 budget on Dec. 9.