Senate hopes to pass 2012 budget by December

Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon on Monday said they hope to pass the P1.8-trillion proposed national budget for 2012 by December. "Our commitment: we will pass the 2012 national budget by December this year," Drilon said at the beginning of the Senate finance committee's deliberations on the proposed 2012 budget. Drilon explained that they must follow the example of President Benigno Aquino III, who submitted the proposed budget to Congress early. "The President submitted the budget 30 days before the constitutionally mandated deadline. We can do no less," he said. The proposed 2012 budget was submitted a day after Aquino delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). The last time the budget proposal was submitted a day after the SONA was on July 27, 1999, after then-President Joseph Estrada's second SONA. Congress also enacted the P1.6-trillion General Appropriations Act of 2011 on time this year, the first time in 11 years. "To pass the budget on time -not whether or not our pork barrel is released on time - is our solemn duty as elected representatives of the people," said Drilon. The Senate finance committee budget deliberations was still goin on as of posting time. - VVP, GMA News