Palace assures on-time passage of 2021 budget

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday vowed to take all steps needed to ensure the timely passage of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

In ensuring the passage of the budget bill, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte will still exercise his power to scrutinize the budget and use his line-item veto power if necessary.

“We will take all steps necessary para maisabatas ito on-time pero hindi po ito isasakripisyo o isusurrender ng Palasyo at ng Presidente ang kanyang kapangyarihan na pag-aralan ang budget,” Roque said in his regular press briefing. (We will take all steps necessary to have this passed on time bur the Palace and the President will not sacrifice the power to scrutinize the budget).

“The President will still exercise his power of review and his power of line veto,” he added.

Congress approved on Wednesday the 2021 national budget which is seen to drive the country’s (coronavirus disease) COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery efforts.

Lodged in the budget bill is the allocated P72.5 billion for the procurement of the coronavirus vaccines.

READ: Bicam OKs proposed 2021 nat’l budget

READ: At least P72-B allocated for COVID-19 vaccine under final version of 2021 budget–Angara

Malacañang has yet to receive a copy of the budget bill as of Thursday noon, Roque said.

“Patuloy po kaming nag-aantay. Ang bibigyan po natin ng kasiguraduhan ay bibilisan naman po ng Palasyo ang pagsusuri sa budget para malaman kung may specific line item na ive-veto ang ating Presidente,” he said.

(We will continue to wait. We are assuring that the Palace will be fast in its scrutiny of the budget and to check if there are specific line items for the President’s veto).

/MUF