MANILA, Philippines – Sinimulan na ngayong araw ng Malaking Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang deliberasyon sa plenaryo ng ₱7.2-Trilyong national budget para sa 2027.
Kinumpirma ni House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson at Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing na pagkatapos ng kaniyang sponsorship speech sa House Bill No. 10858 o ang panukalang badyet para sa susunod na taon ay sisimulan na ang debate sa plenaryo sa panukala bago tuluyang pagbotohan ang General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Ayon kay Suansing magpapatuloy ang debate ng hanggang sa Setiembre 25, “ today, we open the plenary deliberations for the Fiscal Year 2027 General Appropriations Bill — the backbone of our fiscal policy and the clearest mirror of our government’s priorities.”
“The Constitution entrusts Congress with the power of the purse: a solemn responsibility that demands integrity and vigilance.”
Ipinaliwanag pa ng kongresista na ang debate at paghimay sa badyet sa plenaryo ay isang pagkakataon upang mabusisi ang mga probisyong nakapaloob sa GAB at matiyak na ito ay nakatuon sa pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino.
“The plenary deliberations of the General Appropriations Bill are among the greatest exercises of our democracy. The spirited debates that will result from these discussions should ensure that the General Appropriations Act will represent the priorities and necessities of every Filipino from every corner of our archipelago.”
Ang hamon ngayon ni Suansing sa mga mambabatas na magtanong at makipagdebate kung kailangan upang mabigyan ng hustisya ang alokasyon at matiyak na ito ay pakikinabangan ng mga Pinoy.
“Our challenge is to ask the difficult questions, test every assumption and demand full justification for every line item on the budget to ensure that every peso is grounded in science, feasibility and genuine need. Na ang bawat linya sa HGAB ay may saysay, tiyak na kapaki-pakinabang, at direktang makakabuti sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.”
Unang isasalang sa paghimay ng mga kongresista aya ang alokasyon para sa Department of Economy, Planning, and Development at ng Department of Budget and Management.
Susundan ito ng mga badyet na nakalaan para sa Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, at iba pang ahensya.
Sa mga susunod na araw ay isasalang naman sa deliberasyon sa plenaryo ang mga alokasyon at pondo ng Departments of Foreign Affairs and Environment and Natural Resources sa Sept. 17; Justice, Migrant Workers, at Science and Technology sa Sept. 18; Commission on Elections, Commission on Audit at Department of National Defense sa Sept. 21; at ng Office of the Vice President, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture at Department of the Interior and Local Government sa Sept. 22.
Isasalang naman sa September 23 ang alokasyon ng Office of the President, Commission on Higher Education, state universities and colleges, Department of Energy, at Department of Transportation, at susundan ito ng badyet ng ng Congress, Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Public Works and Highways, at Trade and Industry.
Sa huling artaw ng deliberasyon sa September 25 ay isasalang naman ang pondo ng Office of the Ombudsman, Judiciary, Department of Finance, at lump-sum funds bago ganapin ang turno en contra. (Meliza Maluntag)
