MANILA, Philippines – Ipinahayag ni Senador Sherwin Gatchalian ang kanyang kumpiyansa na hindi ibi-veto o ibabasura ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang panukalang P6.793-trilyong national budget para sa 2026 o anumang bahagi nito.
“I am confident that nothing will be vetoed in this budget because first of all, it is coordinated,” sabi ni Gatchalian sa isang panayam noong Disyembre 21 sa Radio DZBB.
“That is one of the things we did, (we) coordinated with the Executive. So we are not only making our own decisions but we are also coordinating with the Executive so that the outcome of the final version of the budget will be good,” dagdag niya.
Natapos ng Senado at Kamara ang bicameral conference committee noong Disyembre 18 matapos matagumpay na mapagkasundo ang mga hindi pagkakaunawaan sa panukalang batas. Ito rin ang kauna-unahang bicameral meeting na ipinalabas nang live sa publiko upang mapalakas ang transparency at accountability.
Kumpiyansa si Gatchalian na matutugunan ng budget ang pangangailangan ng mamamayan. Nakatalagang ratipikahin ng parehong kapulungan ang bicameral report sa Disyembre 28.
“On the 28th (of December), we will return to sign the report. But we’ll no longer have the meetings. So, this is all just staff work,” ani Gatchalian.
Binanggit din ng senador ang pagsisikap na gawing moderno ang paggawa ng General Appropriations Act gamit ang bagong teknolohiya para mas mabilis at mas transparent ang proseso. Bukod dito, muling ia-activate ng Kongreso ang Joint Congressional Oversight on Public Expenditures.
“This is a great, and very powerful committee, but it has not been activated in many, many years,” sabi niya. “So this Oversight Committee will be activated so that every month, maybe every week, there will be oversight here on the key programs of the government.”
Gagawin ng oversight panel ang kanilang trabaho sa buong taon upang masigurong maingat ang paggastos. “One of the things we discovered is that a lot of funds are not being spent. So, the agency asks for funds, but they are not being spent. Or they are being spent, but they are not being spent properly. So, that is one thing we will do when the new year comes,” dagdag pa niya. RNT
