Senate approves proposed 2020 national budget on third and final reading

(Eagle News) — The Senate has approved the proposed 2020 national budget on third and final reading.

Twenty-two senators voted in favor of the P4.1-trillion proposed budget, which President Rodrigo Duterte had certified as urgent.

No one abstained.

With the approval, the proposal will be tackled in the bicameral committee.

The Senate contingent will be composed of Senator Sonny Angara, Senate finance panel chair; and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Richard Gordon, Joel Villanueva, Ralph Recto, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Franklin Drilon and Kiko Pangilinan.

Lacson had predicted a delay in the passage of the budget in the bicameral chamber, as he bared supposed plans of the House of Representatives to make some P100 billion worth of realignments from the budget version submitted by Malacañang. With a report from Meanne Corvera