House approves P5.768-T natl budget for 2024

THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the bill on the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget on Wednesday night.

Over 290 lawmakers voted to pass House Bill 8980 while three voted in the negative. There were no abstentions.

Lawmakers voted on the bill after plenary-level deliberations that started on September 19.

The Executive branch submitted the 2024 National Expenditure Program to the House on August 2. After this, the House Committee on Appropriations conducted budget briefings starting on August 10. The budget briefings ended earlier this September.

President Ferdinand «Bongbong» Marcos Jr. had certified the bill as urgent, which allowed the House to approve the bill on second and third reading on the same day.

Before its passage on second reading, the House approved the creation of a small committee that would receive and resolve individual amendments to the bill. House lawmakers may submit individual amendments to this committee not later than Sept. 29, 2023.

Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said earlier on Wednesday that the House would realign the confidential and intelligence funds of certain civilian agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, to augment the budgets of intelligence and security forces tasked to address escalating threats in the West Philippine Sea.