The bicameral conference committee approved Tuesday the P3.3-trillion 2017 budget amid debates and negotiations on various provisions including an P8-billion fund that finally went to the Commission on Higher Education.

"Sa tingin ninyo smooth lahat dito, pero may negotiations, coordinations, pakiusap, debate. Hindi madali," said Senate Finance Committee Chair Loren Legarda.

Bicameral conference committee approves 3.3 trillion budget, lawmakers sign bicam report pic.twitter.com/iOERq7R7r5 — Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) December 13, 2016

Leaders of the House of Representatives earlier said there is no pork barrel in the proposed budget and there will be no post-enactment intervention, an act declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Before the bicameral approval, Senator Panfilo Lacson made a short manifestation asking their House counterparts in the Commission on Appointments, particularly the appointment of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, not to be influenced by the budget deliberations.

"Kasi na-bypass ata siya ngayon on the account of amendments I introduced. It's all me," said Lacson.

Lacson was referring to the P8-billion fund initially intended for the DPWH which he wanted to be directly given to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

In the approved version of the budget, the P8-billion eventually went to the Commission on Higher Education which will also benefit the ARMM.

"It was the Senate position that the House agreed on, maaaring hindi lahat agree when the Senate stood firm in putting the 8 billion to higner education which will also benefit ARMM," said Legarda.

Legarda is also particularly proud of the pro-poor provisions in the 2017 budget, among them 8 billion peso provision for "doctors to the barrios" program, universal health care coverage for 8 million non-members of PhilHealth, free irrigation for farmers, free education in State universities and colleges, as well as additional funds for the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for the daily allowance of prisoners and detainees.