SENATE President Francis Escudero yesterday called for the early transmittal to the Senate of the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which was approved by the House of Representatives before Congress went on recess last September 27.

Escudero, in a press briefing, urged the House to send to the Senate its approved version of the 2025 national budget earlier than October 25 to give senators more time to scrutinize it.

“Ayon sa Kamara, isa-submit nila ang GAB o General Appropriations Bill sa October 25. Sabi ko, baka puwedeng mas maaga, kung kaya, para mas ma-review na naming (The House of Representatives said it will submit the General Appropriations Bill on October 25. I asked them if it is possible to transmit it at a much earlier time so we will have more time to review it),” Escudero said.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Finance, has earlier said that the House has committed to transmit the GAB by October 25.

The House approved on third and final reading

the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for next year on the evening of September 25 after holding marathon committee hearings and plenary discussions on Malacañang’s spending request.

Escudero said that if the GAB cannot be transmitted earlier, the October 25 timetable is still acceptable.

Escudero said that once sessions resume on November 4, the Poe-led finance panel is expected to file its committee report and, hopefully, sponsor it in the plenary the following day.

Interpellation on the national budget’s general principles is tentatively set on November 5 or 6, which will then be followed by floor deliberations on the proposed budgets of government agencies and offices.

“Inaasahan naming ma-aaprubahan yun sa loob ng hindi lalampas ng dalawang linggo (We expect to pass it [budget] within two weeks),” Escudero said, adding that plenary debates will be held from morning to night to fasttrack the deliberations.

Members of the bicameral conference committee traditionally take around two weeks to iron out the differing provisions in the Senate and House versions of the budget bill.

Escudero said they are hoping to send the final version of the 2025 GAB for the President’s signature before Congress goes on break for the holidays on December 21.