Senator Grace Poe (File photo from Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday kicked off its marathon plenary deliberations on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill containing the proposed P6.3 trillion budget for next year.

The deliberations started with Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the chamber’s panel on finance, sponsoring the general principles of the measure.

Funding for the Department of Budget and Management and its attached agencies are set to be tackled on Wednesday’s debates.

Senate President Chiz Escudero earlier said they need to transmit the consolidated measure on the 2025 budget to the Palace for the President’s approval before the Senate again goes on break.

“Sa inaasahan namin maaprubahan ang (we expect the approval of the) budget at the latest the second week of December, at the earliest first week of December,” he told reporters then.

The proposed 2025 national budget is 10.1 percent higher than the current national budget of P5.7 trillion, as projected earlier by the Department of Budget and Management.

Priorities for the measure include social services, health, education, jobs, technology, infrastructure and people’s well-being.

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