Romualdez vowed to transmit 2023 budget bill to Senate by early October —Angara

Speaker Martin Romualdez told Senate leaders that the House of Representatives will transmit the 2023 national budget bill to the upper chamber by early October if Malacañang submits the National Expenditures Program (NEP) a month after the State of the Nation Address, Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said Tuesday.

"Nakausap namin ni Senate President Migz [Zubiri] si Speaker Martin diyan at sabi niya na he's confident na basta matanggap nila ang budget a month after the SONA, which is the required period sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas—August 25, maipapasa nila yan ng early October. Maibibigay na sa Senado," Angara, chairman of Senate Finance Committee, said.

Should the House of Representatives transmit the bill in October, Angara said, this will give the Senate enough time to debate and scrutinize it.

"Gusto natin na on time natin maipapasa...Para January 1 may bago nang budget, may bago nang programa," he said.

Like in previous Congresses, Angara said they will still conduct early hearings so they can expedite the scrutiny of the proposed budget.

Angara added that there will be no "free ride" in terms of crafting the budget.

"Dito talagang inii-scrutinize ng mga senador, ginagabi pa kami," he said.

"Gusto namin tulungan si Pangulong [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] and the way we can really help is by passing a good budget," he added.

Under the Constitution, the president must submit the proposed budget 30 days after the opening of Congress' regular session.

The Senate cannot act on budget and tax measures if it is not approved by the House of Representative on third and final reading. — BM, GMA News