Reenacted  budget best option amid standoff – Sotto

 MANILA, Philippines – Even if Congress holds a special session, the   2019   national budget will not be passed unless legislators settle their differences.

Senate President Vicente Sotto  III on Monday insisted that having a re-enacted budget remains the best option to break the standoff between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate,   after all, is ready for  “any eventualities,” Sotto said.

“In fact, to disprove that we are after individual insertions, I have proposed a reenacted budget,”  he said in a text message on  Monday.

“Right now, the best thing to do (if they really want to pass the budget) is to just adopt the NEP (National Expenditure  Program). That will also dispel any allegations from both houses,”   the Senate leader added.

Allegations of “pork” insertions have stalled the approval of the  2019   budget at the bicameral congressional committee.

READ: Reenacted budget looms over pork

On Wednesday, February 6)  Congress will adjourn its sessions and will resume after the May 2019 elections.

Asked about the possibility of holding a special  session during the break,  Sotto said: “I doubt that.”

“Kahit mag special session kung  hindi magkasundo,  wala din,” he said.

(Even if we hold a special session, if there is no agreement then it is useless). / gsg