Senate ratifies P2.2-T national budget for 2014

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate unanimously ratified on Wednesday the proposed P2.264-trillion national budget for next year.

The approved budget was lower by P3.2 billion than the original P2.268 trillion proposed by Malacañang.

The budget bill would be transmitted to President Benigno Aquino III for signature after the ratification by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The budget is without the pork barrel of 15 senators and the Office of the Vice President (OVP), according to Senator Francis Escudero, Senate Finance Committee Chair.

Deducted from the budget is the P200-million pork barrel of the OVP and the P200-million of each of the 15 senators, or for a total of P3-billion.

Meanwhile, P100 billion of the budget will be used for the rehabilitation of areas affected by recent calamities.

According to Escudero, a difference between the 2014 budget and the previous ones is that lawmakers will no longer be allowed to intervene or interfere in the implementation of the budget after enactment.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said after the ratification of the budget, the upper chamber will next tackle the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.

He said the measure is already in the advanced stage of legislative work and the committee report has been finishes.

Drilon said if time permits, the interpellation would be scheduled before the last session next week.

The FOI bill would also be the first thing for the Senate next year.