MANILA, Philippines— President Rodrigo Duterte has called
for a special session of Congress to avoid delays in passing the proposed P4.5
trillion national budget for 2021, Malacañang said Friday.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte today, October 9, has called
Congress to a special session scheduled on October 13-16, 2020, to resume the
congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and to avoid
any further delays on its prompt passage,” presidential spokesperson Harry
Roque said in a statement.
The President also certified as urgent the legislation of
next year’s budget, Roque added.
“At sa parehong proklamasyon po ay cinertify as urgent ng ating
Pangulo ang proposed 2021 budget.”
On Thursday, the President threatened to step in and resolve the ruckus at the House of Representatives as the speakership squabble between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is endangering the timely passage of the 2021 national budget.
Duterte likewise appealed to lawmakers to spare him from the
speakership controversy.
Cayetano and his allies on October 6 suddenly moved to
terminate sessions at the House until November 16 after approving on second
reading the proposed spending measure for next year.
With the lower chamber suspending its session until November
16 and the budget bill approved only on second reading, the proposed 2021
spending legislation will not reach the Senate before it goes on break on
October 17.
Senators have slammed Cayetano’s move to prematurely put the
House on recess, saying this may lead to a reenacted budget for 2021.
Based on the legislative calendar of the 18th Congress, both
chambers are set to go on a break on October 17 and not earlier.
This article first appeared on Inquirer.
