Velasco: House contingent to ensure COVID-19 response funded in 2021 budget

MANILA, Philippines — The members of the House of Representatives contingent in the bicameral conference committee for the 2021 budget bill will ensure that there will be enough funds for the government’s response against the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Thursday.

Velasco made the assurance after the Senate approved on third and final reading the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for next year.

He said the House has already formed a contingent composed of 21 lawmakers from various political parties to represent the lower chamber in the bicam.

Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco. Photo from the Office of Cong. Velasco

“These representatives will make sure there will be enough funds for the government’s COVID-19 response, especially the procurement of vaccines for an initial 20 million poor Filipinos and eventually for at least 60 million of our population,” Velasco said in a statement.

He added that the House will ensure that there will be sufficient funding for the rehabilitation and recovery of communities devastated by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

Funds must also be appropriated to sustain President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority programs like “Build, Build, Build” and his anti-poverty projects, Velasco said.

“Our goal is to get the 2021 General Appropriations Bill on the President’s desk for his signature before the year ends, so we can prevent a reenacted budget that will not bode well for the economy and the entire nation,” he added.

After the Senate passes the budget bill, the House and the Senate will convene a bicam to thresh out disagreeing provisions in the proposed measure.

KGA