House targets September approval for P6.352-T budget

The House of Representatives is aiming to approve the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 on third reading by the third or fourth week of September.

This timeline is crucial to provide ample time for the Senate to deliberate and review the budget measure before Congress goes on its first recess.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. expressed confidence in meeting the deadline due to the efficient work of the House Committee on Appropriations and the active participation of the minority bloc.

The National Expenditure Program (NEP), which serves as the basis for the budget, was submitted by President Marcos through the Department of Budget and Management ahead of the constitutional deadline, allowing House members to begin their review.

The House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to hold hearings with the Development Budget Coordination Committee next week to commence the scrutiny of the NEP.

The proposed 2025 budget is significantly higher than the current 2024 GAA, which is worth P5.768 trillion.