Amid House drama, Duterte doesn’t want reenacted budget for 2021

(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte wants a timely passage for the proposed 2021 national budget so the government does not have to operate on a reenacted budget next year as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang said Monday amid the ongoing leadership conflict at the House of Representatives.

“Ang ayaw po ng Presidente magkaroon ng reenacted budget,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing.

(What the President doesn’t want is to have a reenacted budget.)

“So kinakailangan mapirmahan po ang budget sa buwan ng Disyembre para maging epektibo sa a-uno ng Enero,” he added.

(So the budget bill must be signed at the month of December so it will be effective on January 1st.)

The proposed P4.506-trillion national budget, which carries the theme “Reset, Rebound, and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability,” was submitted by the Department of Budget and Management to Congress late August.

The lower chamber began deliberations on the proposed budget on Sept. 4, but a House speakership row between the sitting Speaker of the House Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco—both allies of the administration—threatens the smooth passage of the budget bill.

Under the term-sharing deal brokered by Duterte, Cayetano will serve as House Speaker for 15 months before Velasco replaces him and lead Congress for 21 months.

Cayetano offered to step down as House leader but majority of lawmakers rejected his resignation.

JPV