Congress to submit 2012 budget to PNoy by Dec. 14

The bicameral conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives aims to submit for signing the proposed P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012 to President Benigno Aquino III by December 14.   In a weekly forum at the Senate on Thursday, Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon said the bicameral conference committee will work throughout the weekend to thresh out the differences between the budget versions of the two Houses.   "We are working hard. I expect to meet with our counterparts in the House, Cong. Abaya and his panel over the wekeend or tomorrow and through the weekend," he said.   He likewise said they will try to sign the bicameral report by Monday, November 28.   "Certainly not later by Tuesday we'll have this bicam report signed by both houses," he said.   Drilon said they are confident that they can send the budget to Aquino by December 14, to give him and the Department of Budget and Management time to go over it and have it signed before the end of the year.   "[It] is important that we have budget by January 1," he said.   The House of Representatives approved HB 5023 on third and final reading last October 11.   The Senate approved its version with amendements on Tuesday. - VVP, GMA News