Cayetano hopes Duterte signs 2021 nat’l budget by 1st week of December

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday said he is hoping the 2021 national budget would be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte by the first week of December.

“Initial target namin na matapos itong September, so hanggang before September 20, matapos kami dito sa committee level and then 10 days, pinakamatagal na two weeks sa plenaryo,” Cayetano said in an interview over radio station DZBB.

(Our initial target is the end of September, so before September 20, we will finish in the committee level and then 10 days, the longest will take two weeks on the plenary.)

The House speaker then expressed hope that by September or October, the General Appropriations Bill will reach the Senate.

“Sana mapirmahan na ng Presidente ito ng first week pa lang ng December,” he added.

(I hope this will be signed by the President by the first week of December.)

The House of Representatives on Friday began its discussions on the proposed 2021 budget, amounting to P4.506 trillion.

Cayetano previously said that the public will be given a chance to “directly participate” in the hearings, saying that this will be the first time such step would be done.

Regarding the time frame of the passing of the national budget, House leader said, “May mabigat na dahilan ito eh, kasi usually umaabot ng end of December or ng January bago maging batas ito— kasama na diyan ‘yung signing and publication.

“Pero actually kapag ang budget ay napasa nang maaga, maraming proyekto dito ang maaari nang i-procure o i-bid out,” he added.

(There is a heavy reason, because usually this becomes a law either end of December or January — this includes the signing and publication. But actually if this budget is passed early, many projects may already be procured or bid out.)

“Kailangang kailangan ng trabaho, ng stimulus ng ating mga kababayan, so nakikiusap din kami hindi lamang sa mga gabinete, sa NGOs, sa media, but also sa Senate doon sa time frame. And so far maganda po ang usapan, I think ang Senate magsisimula na rin sila ng budget briefings soon,” Cayetano said.

(Our people need the stimulus and employment, so that’s why I’m asking not only the Cabinet, the non-government organizations, the media, but also the Senate about the time frame. And I think the talks are okay since the Senate will start its own budget briefings soon.)

JE