PNoy to sign 2011 budget during 3-day Xmas break

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he may sign the P1.645-trillion national budget on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. In a speech during the Christmas party of reporters covering the House of Representatives, Aquino said he could also do the signing a day earlier, or Dec. 24, or a day later, Dec. 26. “Just in case wala kayong magawa ng [December] 24, 25, 26 nagtatrabaho pa kami, dumalaw lang kayo (If you don’t have anything to cover on December 24, 25, and 26, you can come to us because we will definitely be working on those days)," he said. Aquino, who was a former congressman representing Tarlac province, went to the party upon the invitation of reporters. “Sa opisina ko meron kami dung pandesal at keso. Totoo yun magsa-signing tayo ng budget (We have bread and cheese in my office. We are really going to sign the budget)," he said. Pointing out that it will be the first time in 11 years that the budget will be signed on time, Aquino thanked the House members for the speedy approval and ratification of the budget bill. Aquino assured that his administration would do everything to effect the changes it wants to achieve. “We will make the most out of it to really advance the changes," he said. He said even though his administration suffered setbacks on its first few months, they have learned from their collective experience. Aside from Aquino, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the Christmas party. She. however, had already left the party before Aquino arrived. Aquino had ordered the formation of an independent body that would investigate unresolved controversies under the Arroyo administration, but the Supreme Court struck down the order as unconstitutional. - KBK, GMANews.TV