INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral conference committee has finalized the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which includes a proposed national budget of P5.768 trillion for next year.
During a Monday meeting, the heads of appropriations panels in both Congress chambers, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and Senator Sonny Angara, confirmed the resolution of conflicting provisions in the 2024 GAB.
This means that the government’s spending plan bill will now be up for ratification by the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and then transmitted to the chief executive’s office for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature.
Bicameral meetings hammered out several disagreeing provisions in the fiscal measure, including the issue of confidential funds (CF) realignment from the pocket of civilian agencies that do not have the mandate to perform investigation or surveillance of security offices involved in protecting the West Philippine Sea.
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