MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is expected to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the 2012 General Appropriations bill on Tuesday.
The bicameral conference committee, co-chaired by House Appropriations Committee Chairman
Jun Abaya and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Franklin Drilon, is expected to submit its bicameral report to the respective chambers on Tuesday.
Majority Leader Boyet Gonzales confirmed that the House will take up the ratification of the bicameral report in Tuesday's session.
If both chambers approve the bicameral report on Tuesday, the budget will be on track to be signed by President Aquino into law by December 15, 2011.
Gonzales could not yet give details of the bicameral report, which is supposed to reconcile the clashing provisions of the House and Senate versions of the budget bill.
The most controversial portion of the bill is the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund, which impounds the budget for unfilled positions in government.
Constitutionally independent offices like the Ombudsman, the judiciary, the Commissions on Elections, the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission on Audit have objected to the fund, citing their fiscal autonomy under the Constitution.
The budget ratification is one of the items on this week's congressional agenda.
Congress only has 2 session days this week because Wednesday, November 30, is a holiday.
Congress is expected to go on Christmas vacation by December 16 up to the second week of January.
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