Senate to begin floor debates on 2013 budget by November

MANILA -- Senators will begin to dissect each detail of the P2-trillion national budget for next year once they resume plenary session in November.

The Senate will go on a two-week break beginning Thursday to give way for the Halloween break as finance committee chairperson Senator Franklin Drilon promised to wrap up hearings on the individual budgets of departments before the layoff.

His committee, likewise, will submit the proposed budget for the Senate floor deliberations by second week of November.

"We will not allow any delay in the approval of the budget. We are committed to pass the budget on time in order to enable the government to implement its crucial projects and programs especially infrastructure at the start of the year to take advantage of good weather in the early months," Drilon said.

On Tuesday, the Senate officially received the House of Representatives' version of the national budget.

Drilon said the budget will be submitted to Malacañang by the second week of December to give President Benigno Aquino III enough time to review the measure. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)