MANILA – Before the year ends, President Rodrigo Duterte hopes to sign into law the proposed P4.506-trillion 2021 national budget bill, which will be vital in the country’s fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), said his spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Sana bago mag-recess ang Kongreso or pagka-recess nila ay at least tapos na para bago mag bagong taon mapirmahan na ni Presidente,” Roque said in an interview over DZBB.
Last Friday, President Duterte called for a special session of Congress from Oct. 13 to 16 “to resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and to avoid any further delays on its prompt passage.”
The chief executive’s call was made three days after Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano suspended the session of the House of Representatives until Nov. 16 without passing the chamber’s final version of the general appropriations bill. Concerns were then raised that the budget might not be passed before year-end.
The President also certified the measure as urgent as its “immediate enactment” was necessary to ensure continuous government operations after 2020, strengthen the country’s COVID-19 response and support initiatives towards national economic recovery.
With such urgency, Congress may skip the three-day rule allowing lawmakers to pass a measure on third reading immediately after it was passed on second reading.
“Itong budget na ito ay para labanan ang COVID-19,” Roque said. “Dahil sa hakbang na ginawa ng Pangulo, masisigurado ngayon, maipapasa on third and final reading sa Kamara ‘yan at maiakyat sa Senado.”/PN
