The House of Representatives has approved the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that contains ₱5.768 trillion national budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 on Wednesday, September 27.
With 296 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and zero abstention, House Bill 8980, or the 2024 GAB was approved on the third and final reading.
The three Makabayan bloc lawmakers, Arlene Brosas, France Castro, and Raoul Manuel voted against the passage of HB 8980. Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman voted yes with reservations.
Just in> sa boto na 209 ang pabor… 3 tutol…0 abstain…pinagtibay ng Kamara ang HB 8980 o 2024 General Appropriations Bill na nagkakahalaga ng P5.768-Trillion @dzrhnews
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) September 27, 2023
However, the 2024 GAB will still undergo individual assessment by a House committee.
The said panel will review the ammendments made in HB 8980, including the reallocation of the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) of civilian government agencies to the agencies in charge of ensuring national security.
House appropriations chair and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co confirmed that the panel is eyeing to slash the ₱650 million CIF of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) and transfer to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the National Security Council (NSC), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Just in> P650M confidential and intelligence funds ng OVP at DepEd ililipat sa NICA, NSA, PH Coast Guard at BFAR. Ayon kay Cong. Elizady Co, sa ngayon ang OVP at DepEd pa lang ang natukoy na ililipat ang pondo at hahanap pa ng ibang mapagkukunan ng pondo @dzrhnews
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) September 27, 2023
The lower house approved the GAB 2024 a week after President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. had certified this as urgent, citing that the immediate passage would "address the need to maintain continuous government operations."
