Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes the House of Representatives “disregarded the request priority” of President Duterte on the passage of 2021 budget.
“There is no way we can finish the budget if it is not submitted to us before the mandated break after October 14. Do not blame us!” Sotto stressed.
Finance Committee Chairperson Sen. Sonny Angara said they are hoping for the Lower House approval of the budget “before the congressional break next week” and for the original schedule to be followed.
“But at the end of the day, we cannot impose on our House colleagues but only plead and appeal to them,” he continued.
Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto added that the Senate can only begin its plenary debates following the “official receipt of the approved House bill.”
“The Senate traditionally holds morning to midnight debates for two weeks on the general appropriations act. That will still be observed this year. There will be no reenacted budget but a revamped budget is a certainty,” Recto stated.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson believes they will have sufficient time for the floor deliberations and to avoid a re-enacted budget, “depending on which date in November” will the third reading approval of the Lower House version of 2021 GAB take place.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has reiterated that the passage of the budget for next year is an “internal matter” of the Lower House which should be accomplished on time. – Report from Eunice Samonte
