Press Release
January 28, 2008

2008 GAA
Villar: budget is top priority

Senate President Manny Villar expressed confidence that the national budget will be promptly ratified as the bicameral conference committee pledged to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the appropriations measure.

"As we anticipate the ratification of the bicameral report, we expect that fiscal directions to be set by the measure for the year will lead government to address the needs of our country and people meaningfully," said Villar, Nacionalista Party president.

Earlier, the Senate President underscored the need to fully scrutinize the appropriations bill in the interest of transparency and accountability.

In an interview today, Villar said he is optimistic that positive compromises will be reached by the bicameral conference panel in a bid to iron out differences in the budget bill versions.

Since last year, the Senate has passed the P1.227-trillion national budget for 2008 after three weeks of marathon deliberations.

It can be recalled that the Senate committee on finance chaired by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile started public hearings on the budget as early as September and simultaneously with the House deliberations last year.

The bicameral conference committee led by Enrile and House counterpart Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman vowed to come up with a committee report upon the resumption of session.

"Our commitment to pass the new budget should emphasize our call for the strictest accountability of every peso of government resources," Villar stated.

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