Toby Tiangco's attempt to reopen plenary debate on House budget denied

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An attempt by Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco on Monday to reopen the plenary debate on the budget of the House of Representatives was denied.

During the plenary session of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill, Tiangco questioned the changes of the budget hearing of the House from September 24 to September 17.

"Kaya po tayo nagbibigay ng schedule ng budget is para po makapaghanda yung mga members na magtanong. So kung ang budget ng House ay September 24 pa, natural po ang paghahandaan muna ay yung mga September 18, September 21. So mas logical kung doon po humugot," Tiangco said.

(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.)

"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, saying that Tiangco was unable to vote during the plenary debate of the budget hearing 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'," Garin said.

"As we have conferred with the Secretary-General, the Honorable Toby Changco 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 was terminated on Thursday, September 17.

The budget covers the Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Appointments, and the House and Senate Electoral Tribunal. —RF, GMA News