Angara assures passage of 2010 budget by end of the year

Congress will be able to ratify the proposed P1.541-trillion 2010 national budget before the end of the year, way ahead of the start of the campaign period in February, Senator Edgardo Angara assured Wednesday. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Angara, who chairs the finance committee, said the Senate is already finished hearing the proposed budgets of the different government offices and departments. "I will consolidate the report during the second break (which will start on November 21 until November 30)," he said. Angara said that when the Senate resumes its session on December 1, he will report it out to the plenary for interpellations and amendments. "Within a week, I believe maipapasa namin ito on second reading," he said. Soon as the Senate approves its version of the proposed national budget, the bicameral conference committee will then meet on the second week of December in order to reconcile both the Senate and House versions, Angara said. "By third week of December sigurado ako na mara-ratify na namin ito," Angara said. The House of Representatives on Monday evening passed on third and final reading the proposed budget. [See: House OKs P1.5-trillion budget on final reading] Lawmakers earlier expressed doubts that Congress will be able to approve the budget soon as senators and congressmen are expected to go on the campaign trail to push for their respective candidacies or support candidates of their choice. The Commission on Elections has set the filing of certificates of candidacy from November 20 to December 1. The campaign period for candidates aspiring for national positions starts Feb. 9, 2010 and will last until May 8, 2010 while the period for candidates at the local level will be from March 26, 2010 to May 8, 2010. - GMANews.TV