Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday assured the timely passage of House Bill 10800, or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) containing the proposed PhP6.352-trillion national budget for 2025.

“Mamayang gabi po (Wednesday night), maipapasa natin po ‘yan on third and final reading and ready for transmission in short order to the Senate,” Romualdez told reporters in the Palace briefing, referring to the GAB.

Escudero said they are now waiting for the approved version of the GAB so they can start deliberating at the Senate the proposed 2025 national budget.

“Sa ngayon, on schedule ang mga pagdinig sa komite ng Senado at inaasahan namin na ito ay maaprubahan nang may sapat na panahon para ito ay mabasa at ma-review ng Pangulo kaugnay ng mga line item na maari niyang gawin sa panukalang budget upang maging ganap na batas na ito bago matapos ang taon,” Escudero said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has certified the 2025 national budget as urgent, allowing lawmakers to expedite the passage of the national budget on second and third reading.

The proposed national outlay will be used by the government to distribute the dividends of economic progress through various financial assistance and social protection programs.

It will also be used to fund infrastructure projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, seaports, airports, irrigation systems, and transportation networks. | PND