MANILA, Philippines — Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Friday said that the House of Representatives should reconvene to pass the proposed 2021 national budget on third reading, saying this legislation cannot be held “hostage.”
“We cannot hostage the budget, we cannot afford any delays in the budget,” Nograles, a former legislator, said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Because nakapaloob po sa budget ng 2021 ang response natin against COVID-19, matugunan ang problema ng kagutuman at kahirapan at i-jumpstart natin ang ating ekonomiya para makapagtrabaho ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(Our response against COVID-19 is in the budget for 2021—to address hunger, poverty and to jumpstart the economy so that our countrymen can return to their work.)
President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech Thursday night, threatened to step in to save the proposed national budget for 2021 from the delay caused by the speakership row between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
On Tuesday, the House suspended session after approving the proposed 2021 national budget on second reading and is expected to vote on the final approval of the budget when they resume session on November 16.
With the House suspending its session until November 16, the budget measure will not reach the Senate before it goes on break on October 17.
“I believe that the House of Representatives should convene and begin again the budget deliberations and pass the budget before the break,” Nograles said.
“There’s no reason to go on a break without passing it on third reading,” he added.
Malacañang expressed optimism that the proposed 2021 national budget will be passed on time, but senators said it is “as good as reenacted” after Cayetano prematurely put the House on a break.