PASAY CITY -- The Senate, on Wednesday, 23 November 2022, approved the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) amounting to Php5.268 trillion.

With 21 senators voting in the affirmative, without any negative votes and abstentions, the Senate has approved the proposed 2023 national budget in the third and final reading.

“We express our endless gratitude to the honorable members of the Senate, under the capable and dynamic stewardship of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, for looking after the welfare of our people by passing the budget on time. They have proved themselves to be true to their promise,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

Finance Committee Chairman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara tirelessly spearheaded the presentation and discussion of the proposed budget.

“With the inputs and support of most, if not all, our colleagues here in the Senate, we have been able to keep this budget aligned with the objectives and agenda outlined in the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF). Let this be a sign of our broad support to the goals set by the Marcos administration, and our principled commitment to promoting a unified government for the betterment of the Filipino people,” Senator Angara expressed.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his letter to Senator Zubiri on 21 November 2022, certified the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 4488 urgent “in order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year (FY), to expedite the funding of various programs, projects, and activities for FY 2023, and to ensure budgetary preparedness that will enable the government to effectively perform its Constitutional mandate.”

Secretary Pangandaman noted, “The Senate’s approval of the GAB is a great milestone in ensuring the realization of the government’s programs and initiatives in 2023, especially in achieving the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of the Marcos Jr. administration.”

To recall, the GAB secured the nod of the House of Representatives on 28 September 2022.

As a next step of the enactment process, the Senate and the House will discuss together their proposed amendments to the GAB through the Bicameral Conference Committee. (DBM)