Velasco calls for resumption of House session to tackle budget
MANILA, Philippines — Speakership aspirant Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) is calling for the resumption of session in the House of Representatives to reopen debates on the proposed 2021 national budget, which were abruptly ended by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros).
“The hasty approval of the spending plan of the Duterte administration on second reading without observing the full budget process and the abrupt suspension of House sessions imperiled the enactment of vital measures, particularly the 2021 budget — the single most important piece of legislation that we pass every year,” Velasco said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that it is time to set aside political differences, as the issues hounding the budget are “far bigger” than the tussle for the top post at the House between him and Cayetano.
He also hit Cayetano, accusing him once more of “blackmailing” the executive department and holding the budget hostage for his own political gain.
Velasco’s call echoes those of lawmakers allied with him and lawmakers from the opposition for the House session to resume and for debates on the spending plan to be restarted.
Cayetano, however, balked at these appeals, saying that continuing budget deliberations in plenary would further lead to politicking.
“There are saboteurs, there were people with their own intentions. Lawmakers and the departments were no longer able to talk well with each other,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
In lieu of plenary debates, Cayetano moved to create a small committee composed of several House members which would take up proposed amendments by lawmakers to the budget.
The speakership squabble reached new heights after Cayetano’s allies moved to suspend session until November 16, thus avoiding any possibility of the Velasco camp from putting up a challenge to the speaker’s leadership come October 14 — the supposed end-date of the first half of the term-sharing agreement between the two lawmakers brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
With the session suspended until November 16, the House would not be able to pass the budget on third and final reading until then at the earliest, raising concerns from some senators that the passage of the fiscal plan would be delayed.
Lawmakers allied with Velasco said it is still possible for a majority of congressmen to reconvene the session ahead November 16, but Cayetano’s allies said this would be illegal.
The Duterte administration is set to submit its penultimate budget proposal for Congress's consideration on Tuesday, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado says.
"We've arranged the submission today after lunch," Avisado says in a text message.
The proposed budget will be worth P4.506 trillion, 9.9% higher than this year's P4.1-trillion outlay. The government says the outlay would prioritize ongoing response to the pandemic. — Prinz Magtulis
President Rodrigo Duterte will sign his administration's penultimate budget on December 28, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says.
A few weeks ago, both chambers of Congress ratified the 2021 national budget worth P4.5 trillion.
The House of Representatives approves on final reading the extension of validity of Bayanihan 2 until June 30, 2021.
Executive agencies with projects and campaigns under the Bayanihan II law must make sure all programs have been implemented before the legislation lapses on December 19, Sen. Bong Go says in a news release.
The statement came after the Department of Budget and Management said that the law, signed September 11, still has unreleased appropriations.
Bayanihan II, meant to provide resources to assist Filipinos affected by the pandemic, covers a cash-for-work program, economic relief to enterprises and aid the healthcare system. The 2020 General Appropriations Act will similarly lapse within the month.
"Agencies should work overtime to fund and implement provisions in these laws," Go says.
The House of Representatives ratifies the proposed P4.506 trillion national budget for 2021.
Deliberations on the 2021 national budget are still ongoing at the Senate as of writing time.
Once approved by both chambers of Congress, the proposed budget can be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.
The House ratifies the bicameral conference committee report on the 2021 General Appropriations Bill. pic.twitter.com/vrMdPAWYAy
— House of Representatives of the Philippines (@HouseofRepsPH) December 9, 2020
The bicameral committee on the 2021 budget panel reconvenes today led by Rep. Eric Yap (ACT-CIS partylist) of the House appropriations panel and Sen. Sonny Angara of the Senate's finance panel.
The joint panels are aiming to ratify the P4.5-trillion budget in the afternoon. — Image from the Office of Sen. Angara
- Latest
- Trending
