WEDNESDAY / FEBRUARY 5' 2O2O
WWW.INQUIRER,NET..
House eyes crafting
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In the future, lawmakers maY
tinker with the budget Propos-
al for the succeeding Year even
before it is submitted to con-
gress, spelling a radical change
in the annual budgetnLrY Pro-
cess and blurring the lines of
' proper commiftees of both the
executive and legislative func-
tions in budget-making.
' House leaders on Tuesday
announced a plan to "take a
' second looK at the "tradi-
tional way" of enacting the
approPriations measure from
its preparation to Passage into
law, and introducing a mecha-
nism in which the House and
the Senate would work with
the executive branch in craft-
ing the proposal for approval
by the same two chambers.
Speaker Alan Peter CaY-
etano and MaioritY Leader
Martin Romualdez separatelY
issued statements heralding the President as the National
what they consideied a novel Expenditure Frogram or the
way to speed uP the typically President's budget.
lengthy budget season- and to Based'on that, the House
avoid presidential\etoEs: files the general appropria-
tions bill, which goes through
Consultation the typical legislative Pro-
"Even before the President cesses from colnmiftee delib-
submits t$e budget to Congress, erations to plenary debates,
rhere is consultaflbn with tlle amendments, and approval on
second and third reading.
House and the Senate, instead Once passed bY the House,'
of them preparing it and the the bill goes through the same
processes in the Senate.
House revising it and the Senate
dolng its own revisior!" Cayeta- The two chambers then
no said, explaining the ProPosal. meet in conferencd to recon-
"That is what we want to cild conflicting Provisions, and
do and that is what Budget once a final version is agreed
Secretary (Wendel) Avisado - upon, it is ratified and sent to
wants to do," the Taguig law- the President for siSning into
law, or what becomes the Gen-
maker said.
Atpresent, the outlay is eral Appropriations Act.
drafted by the countryls eco- Rornqaldez said the Plan
nomic managers after col- was Still consistent with the
lecting the proposals of all constitutional mandate that
government agencies and "the power of the Purse lies
i3 submitted to Congress bY with the legislature." Na
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