House plenary okays President's budget (5:17 p.m.)

MANILA -- After about five hours of interpellation, the House plenary passed the P3.4-billion budget of the Office of the President unchanged last Wednesday.

Lawmakers from the Minority bloc like Representative Teofisto Guingona III, Gabriela representative Liza Maza, Kabataan representative Raymond Palatino, and Bayan Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Teodoro Casiño took turns scrutinizing the chief executive's budget. Their queries were answered by OP budget sponsor Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

The House plenary is on marathon sessions this week to deliberate on the 2010 General Appropriations Act or House Bill 6767.

Speaker Prospero Nograles earlier said they aim to approve the 2010 budget by Thursday. (Justine Paredes/Sunnex)