00:00The Senate's reputation has been tarnished for its conspiratorial role in the notoriously shady ratification of the 2025 national budget,
00:08in which 289 billion pesos was realigned to the DPWH in the BICAM committee deliberations, the small BICAM of two in particular.
00:18So it would make amends and try to redeem itself in getting things right in enacting next year's general appropriations bill when BICAM deliberations kick off this weekend.
00:27And with a watchful public keeping closed tabs in real time online, our Floyd Brents has more.
00:36The rescheduled deliberations of the BICAM conference committee for the proposed 2026 national fund is all systems go for tomorrow.
00:45After the adjustment of the schedule, committee chairperson Senator Sherwin Gachalian said there was neither a secret BICAM that occurred in between adjustments,
00:55nor was there a secret meeting held. Everything is transparent or will be done publicly.
01:00Walang secret BICAM. Doon pag-uusapan sa BICAM. But of course kami nagprepare kami on our side kasi maraming dokumento.
01:11So we have to prepare early and we have to make sure na madetalyay yung preparation.
01:17Aside from the examinations of the versions of the budget, both from the House and Senate, there are technical discussions that should be made.
01:26But there are no behind-the-scenes settlements or any talks without the knowledge of the public.
01:30Yung staff, nakikipag-coordinate to staff kasi yung venue, yung pagkain, like yung matrix,
01:37kumuha ng information lang, additional information doon sa mga proposal sila. So doon lang. Logistics and basic information.
01:48As a matter of fact, there are government agencies asking for additional funds, but they did not allow any insertions to the budget.
01:55May mga agencies talaga na nagre-request pa sila ng additional budget. In fact, iba, new item pa nga eh.
02:03So in the BICAM. But because lahat naman ng agencies, tingin nila sa salili nila, priority.
02:12And rightfully so, dahil ginagawa nila yung trabaho nila. So marami talaga pang nagre-request.
02:17Ako, I get a lot. In fact, yesterday meron pa. So ba't hindi ko naman mapipigilan sila na magpadala ng letter?
02:24Iba, nagbabakas sa katali. Baka may chance. But ako personally, I tell them na wala nang chance.
02:32Kasi tapos na yung third reading version ng Senate.
02:38If lawmakers wanted additional funds, they can propose during the BICAM.
02:42Lahat na pag-usapan naman eh. Period of amendments. So ang daming opportunity para mapag-usapan yun.
02:50Admittedly, hindi lahat na adapa. Hindi lahat. Kasi nga sobrang dami, hindi talaga kaya.
02:57May proposal sila, doon na lang ipropose.
02:59Meanwhile, Sen. Gachalian said they can grant the wish of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
03:05that the 2026 budget will be a good budget. He assured the budget does not have any form of corruption.
03:11Yan naman ang magiging Christmas gift ko sa kanya. Magandang budget. Budget na hindi na magkakaroon ng ghost project. Budget na alam niya kung nasaan yung project at alam niya gaano kahaba yung infrastructure. Budget rin na ang mga kababayan natin pwede nang pumunta sa mga government hospital.
03:33Libre. Wala nang babayaran. At more classrooms, of course, and more education support.
03:39So, para sa akin, this is my personal opinion.
03:42Ninfo, magandang budget to. I'm very happy. At least for now.
03:47Hopefully, wala naman major changes pagdating sa BICAM.
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