House to approve General Appropriations Act next week

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles and Majority Leader Arthur Defensor on Wednesday assured that there will be no re-enacted budget for 2010 as the House of Representatives starts its two-week marathon debate on the proposed P1.5-trillion General Appropriations Act.

"We are confident we will approve the proposed national budget by Friday next week," Nograles said, following Monday's sponsorship speeches led by Appropriations Committee Chairman Junie Cua and Vice Chairman Edcel Lagman.

Nograles pointed out that the current efforts of the national government in relief and rehabilitation of flood devastated areas due to the extraordinarily heavy rains spawned by storm Ketsana and the tailing storm Parma makes it more imperative that the proposed budget be acted upon swiftly.

"We can't waste time. Our people – the farmers, fishermen, small and big businesses, everybody - await government action. And we need to act together and fast," Nograles stressed.

Majority Leader Defensor assured that while the House leadership, through a consensus of the majority in plenary, has decided to hold morning and afternoon marathon sessions from today until October 16, each member will be given all the time to actively participate in the plenary consideration.

"We will allow, as always had been in the past, an open and democratic plenary debate on every concern relative to the proposed national outlay," Defensor said. (Gil Bugaoisan)