By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
REPRESENTATIVE Vincent “Kobre” Aldan is pressing the Senate to act on House Bill 24-84, which proposes appropriating the $2.1 million fiscal year 2025 surplus for the Public School System and retirees’ pension benefits.
Authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao, H.B. 24-84, which passed the House in January, is now before the Senate’s Fiscal Affairs Committee.
In a statement last week, Aldan, who represents Precinct 1 in the House of Representatives, said the funding measure must be acted on because retirees and PSS deserve accountability, not silence.
He said H.B. 24-84 “is not a complicated bill, not a political stunt, not a new tax, and does not increase the fiscal year 2026 budget ceiling.” He described it as a narrow and responsible appropriation bill that authorizes the use of $2,105,563 in FY 2025 surplus revenues identified by Gov. David M. Apatang.
Under the bill, 25% of the amount, or $526,390.75, is allocated to PSS in compliance with the constitutional requirement that 25% of general revenues be appropriated to PSS. The remaining 75%, or $1,579,172.25, is directed exclusively to retirees’ 25% pension benefit.
The House passed H.B. 24-84 on Jan. 16, 2026.
Aldan said, “PSS should not be left waiting for constitutionally required funding when the source has already been identified.”
He added: “The public should not have to guess why a House-passed bill involving education and retirees has not even been assigned to a Senate committee. The Senate has every right to review legislation, and it does not have to bypass proper procedures to rubber-stamp any bill passed by the House. However, careful review does not mean indefinite silence. Responsible legislative review requires transparency, assignment, committee action, questions, amendments if needed, and a clear path forward.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from the Senate as of press time Monday afternoon.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
