House Minority vows to scrutinize 2021 national budget

MANILA, Philippines — The Minority bloc in the House of Representatives will scrutinize thoroughly the 2021 P4.5-trillion national budget as the chamber is set to start deliberations on it on Friday, September 4.

Such was the assurance of House Minority Leader Benny Abante on Wednesday, adding that it is the duty of lawmakers to “pore over” details in the budget for the good of the nation.

He added that lawmakers, not just from the Minority, are “duty-bound” to review the budget, reassess the priorities and line items and reallocate funds.

While the Minority will thoroughly review the budget, Abante said they will still cooperate to pass the measure “as fast as humanly possible.”

“This does not mean we will not cooperate with efforts to pass the budget as fast as humanly possible,” Abante said in a statement.

He said he agrees with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano that lawmakers must work to pass the budget early so that the government could focus on economic recovery efforts.

“The devil is in the details––and it is the duty of every legislator, not just those in the Minority, to pore over these details and make sure that every peso in that budget redounds to the benefit of our constituents,” Abante said. [ac]