House budget debate reopening attempt denied by Deputy Speaker

An attempt by Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco to reopen the plenary debate on the budget of the House of Representatives itself was denied by the Deputy Speaker. During the plenary session for the 2027 General Appropriations Bill, Tiangco questioned the change in the House's budget hearing schedule from September 24 to September 17. "The reason we provide the budget schedule is so that the members can prepare the questions they want to raise. So, if the House budget is scheduled for September 24, naturally, the members would first prepare for the September 18 and September 21 budget hearings. So, it would be more logical to draw from those instead," Tiangco said. "So I'm asking for a motion for reconsideration to reopen the budget of the House and be presented to the plenary," he added. However, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin denied Tiangco's motion, stating that Tiangco was unable to vote during the plenary debate of the budget hearing for the lower chamber. "Section 105 of our rules states, 'When a national report or motion is approved, adopted, or lost, a member who voted with the majority may move for its reconsideration on the same or succeeding session day'. As we have conferred with the Secretary-General, the Honorable Toby Tiangco was on official travel abroad. Hence, with due courtesy, Hon. Toby Tiangco, your motion for reconsideration is out of order," she added. The interpellation on the proposed P27.9 billion budget for Congress, which covers the Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Appointments, and the House and Senate Electoral Tribunal, was terminated on Thursday, September 17. —RF, GMA News