Recall of House approved-GAB may lead to reenacted budget – senators

Senators say concerns over the House-approved General Appropriations Bill can be addressed in the consolidated version of the budget bill

MANILA, Philippines – Recalling the House-approved version of the 7.2-trillion proposed 2027 national budget, as pushed by some lawmakers, may result in a reenacted budget, senators said on Friday, October 23.

Senate finance committee chairperson JV Ejercito warned of potential delays in the passage of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) after the Makabayan bloc proposed recalling House Bill No. 10858 to correct provisions they believe could be declared unconstitutional.

“There are proposals to recall the HGAB. In my opinion, there is a great chance the proposed 2027 national budget may not be approved if that would happen,” Ejercito said in a chance interview.

“The Senate is running on a very tight schedule due to the impeachment, regular plenary sessions, and budget hearings. Right now, we are targeting to pass our version of the budget bill by second week of November,” he added

The Supreme Court (SC) declared the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts (GAA), or national budget laws, unconstitutional. Citing the court’s rulings, the Makabayan bloc called on the House to “clean its own mess,” pointing to provisions in the proposed 2027 budget involving the release of unprogrammed appropriations, cuts to foreign-assisted projects to accommodate congressional insertions, and prohibited lump-sum allocations.

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio told ANC’s Headstart: “If this were not corrected, [it] would risk many portions of the budget for 2027 as well. We don’t want yet another budget that will be declared unconstitutional.”

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chairperson of the Senate committee on accounts, echoed Ejercito’s position, saying recalling the budget was “not the solution.”

“They can submit their proposals to the House or to the Senate finance committee for consideration. After all, the Senate version of the budget bill will be subject to the bicam so they should attest and address their concerns there,” Lacson said.

“Recalling the budget to the House is not the solution because that would result to a worse scenario — a reenacted budget,” he added.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also said there was no need to recall the proposed budget, adding that the Senate could address the questioned provisions in the consolidated version of the budget bill.

“Looking at the Supreme Court decision on the 2026 budget, there are only a few provisions that will be affected. I don’t see the need to make major correction in the 2027 budget,” Gatchalian said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, if Congress fails to pass the GAB for the incoming fiscal year, the GAA for the preceding fiscal year is deemed reenacted and remains in effect until a new appropriations law is passed. – Rappler.com

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