House panel defers DMW budget hearing

The House appropriations panel has rescheduled the budget deliberation on the proposed P4.46 billion 2025 budget of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to September 9, 2024, pending the confirmation of the appointment of Secretary Hans Cacdac. 

Stella Quimbo, the senior vice chairperson of the House appropriations committee and a lawmaker from Marikina, informed the panel that Cacdac had requested an excuse from the deliberations due to his scheduled appearance before the Commission on Appointments (CA) this morning.

The CA, composed of members of the House and the Senate, has the authority to confirm, accept, or reject presidential appointees. 

Cagayan de Oro lawmaker Rufus Rodriguez said Cacdac's physical presence in the budget hearing "is essential in explaining the thrust and programs of the DMW."

"Therefore, I move to defer the [budget] hearing to September 9 at 11 a.m.," Rodriguez said in his motion.

No House member raised an objection to Rodriguez's motion. —VAL, GMA Integrated News