The Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) convened on Thursday, bringing together members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to address key differences in their respective versions of the proposed 2025 national budget.
Senator Grace Poe said discrepancies between the two chambers are relatively minimal. A technical working group (TWG), composed of representatives from both chambers, will work to reconcile these differences in the coming days.
“For now, the technical working group composed of representatives from the House and the Senate—usually the secretariats—will convene. And then from there, we will reconcile the differences. Actually, the major differences are minimal,” Poe explained.
The senator noted that one of the key points of contention is the proposed Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program. The Senate previously removed the P39 billion allocation for AKAP during its budget deliberations, and its inclusion is expected to be a significant topic in the discussions.
In her opening remarks, Poe emphasized the importance of collaboration in crafting a balanced and equitable budget.
“Today, we’ll make those tough decisions. But let’s not forget: this is also a time for cooperation and compromise. We are all representing different perspectives, interests, and constituencies. But let our differences become our strength. Let’s use them to create a budget that’s balanced, equitable, and pro-people,” she said.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the need to align priorities with the needs of the Filipino people.
“I’m sure our counterparts in the Senate share these same goals. So now, it’s up to us in this Bicam to bridge the gaps—not just between the House and the Senate but, more importantly, between what our people need and what we can deliver,” Romualdez stated.
The Speaker declined to provide details when asked about the status of the budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Recently, Poe clarified that the OVP did not request any additional funding, which is why its P733 million budget remained unchanged in the Senate version.
She added that P600-million of this allocation could be utilized for social programs such as medical and burial assistance.
The Bicam’s deliberations are expected to continue in the coming days, with both chambers aiming to finalize a unified and pro-people budget, before the 19th Congress goes on recess.
