Sotto: Senate to have early resumption of session on Nov. 9

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said the session in the upper chamber will resume on November 9, a week ahead of the original schedule.

The announcement came as senators expect the House of Representatives to approve the P4.5-trillion proposed national budget on third reading this week.

"Yes, November 9. I already instructed the Senate Secretary to inform the HOR, and they are not compelled nor enjoined to do the same. They can resume on the 16th as manifested in the original calendar," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said he expects the budget to be sponsored in plenary on November 9 and eventually be ratified by both houses of Congress on the second week of December.

During the session, Senate committee on finance chairperson Sonny Angara said their early resumption would also mean earlier deadlines for subcommittees to submit their reports regarding the budget hearings they have conducted.

He said the deadline he would set would probably be towards the end of October or early November.

The upper chamber is expected to hold their last session this Thursday before entering a recess. During the break, senators would still hold budget hearings. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News