The House of Representatives on Wednesday terminated the budget deliberation for the Presidential Management Staff in just three minutes after no members of the minority had wished to interpellate the budget sponsors.
The lawmakers made it as a courtesy to their former colleague, Manila 3rd District Rep. Zenaida Angping, who is now the PMS chief.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan of 4PS Partylist and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte 1st District acknowledged Angping’s presence on the floor.
House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Partylist, the sponsor of P883.065 million of the PMS next year, was also present.
Libanan said that no one from the minority wanted to interpellate.
“Mr. Speaker, it appears that nobody from the office of the minority would like to interpellate the budget of the Office of the Presidential Management Staff,” said Libanan during the plenary session.
“Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I move that we terminate the interpellation on the budget of the PMS. So move, Mr. Speaker,” the minority leader said, which got applauded by the audience.
Marcos, a House’s majority party member, seconded the motion.
“Mr. Speaker, there being no interpellation from the part of the majority, the majority is one with the minority with their motion to terminate the deliberations on the proposed budget of PMS,” Marcos said.
The House agreed to wrap up all budget arguments on Wednesday as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified House Bill 4488 or the General Appropriations Bill to be passed as urgent without needing three days in between.
The PMS’s proposed budget of P883.065 million, plus P19.37 million in automatic appropriations, will be divided as follows: P289.09 million for personnel services, P461.75 million for maintenance and other operational expenses, and P132.23 million for capital outlay.