House leaders confident of passing 2012 budget on time

Leaders of the House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed confidence that the proposed P1.816-trillion budget for 2012 will be passed on time to avoid a reenacted budget for next year. Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II said Congress will definitely meet its target to pass the General Appropriations Act for President Benigno Aquino III’s approval by December 15. “Are we confident that we will be able to pass the budget? Of course, yes… Sigurado iyan, maipapasa namin ‘yan," he said at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. The next plenary sessions on the proposed 2012 budget will surely have quorum, unlike what happened during the start of the budget deliberations, he said. “It’s not unheard of that during the budget debates, talagang hindi naman ganoon talaga nakakakuha ng quorum… We are very confident ngayong hapon, at magtutuloy-tuloy na iyan," he said. The start of plenary debates on the proposed national budget was delayed for more than an hour Tuesday because majority of the lawmakers failed to show up. 'Their parochial concerns' Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, chairperson of the House appropriations panel which initially deliberated on the proposed budget, also expressed optimism that the General Appropriations Act will be passed on schedule. “I couldn’t afford to say na nangangamba ako na hindi maipasa ito. I’m optimistic we will pass this on time. I think ‘yung majority, nakausap na namin ng husto. They have been given all the chances to ask questions and address their parochial concerns," he said. Despite the deadlines for Congress to pass the proposed budget, the opposition bloc will be given time to raise their concerns about the national expenditure program. “What has been left out is the minority, but that is their own choice. We will give them all the time to ask questions," he said. Members of the House minority boycotted the budget briefings during the past month, supposedly due to delays in the releases of their priority development assistance funds, commonly known as the “pork barrel." [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/228073/nation/house-minority-to-boycott-budget-hearings-due-to-pork-delays] Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez on Sunday said the opposition bloc plans to question two major issues in the 2012 budget: the additional P16 billion for the conditional cash transfer program and the P23.4-billion special purpose fund for unfilled government positions. — VS, GMA News