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Lawmakers from both houses of Congress held the first day of their “hybrid” bicameral meeting on the proposed $ 4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 Tuesday at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
The Senate contingent is led by Senator Sonny Angara, who chairs the Upper House Finance Committee.
On the other hand, there are a total of 21 members of the House of Representatives. They are led by the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Eric Yap.
Among those physically present at the closed-door conference were Angara, Senators Pia Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian and Bong Revilla.
Yap, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, and Representatives Edcel Lagman, Roberto Puno, Mikee Romero, Joseph Bernos and Caraps Paduano were also physically present.
Lawmakers at the scene underwent an antigen swab test to make sure they are not COVID-19 carriers. Other bicam members are also present by teleconference.
The meeting ended after 10 am and Angara and Yap were appointed to discuss the amendments.
Based on the tentative schedule from the Senate Finance Committee, a bicam report approved on December 9 can be expected if the meetings go smoothly.
If the schedule were followed, the blanket appropriations bill could come to the president’s desk on December 16 for his signature. —KG, GMA News
