House majority will 'respect' term-sharing agreement
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:01 p.m.) — The term-sharing deal brokered between House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Lord Velasco (Marinduque) will be honored once the budget bill is passed, lawmakers said Sunday.
In a statement sent to reporters Sunday afternoon, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said that the "gentleman's agreement" will be followed after the approval of the national budget for 2021 on its third and final reading on Friday, October 16.
Under the agreement, Cayetano is slated to turn over leadership of the House 15 months into his term to Velasco, who will preside over the lower chamber for the next 21 months.
It is not clear how this will take place later on, and if Cayetano will be stepping down from his post.
"We will respect the term-sharing agreement and ensure a smooth transition of leadership in the House of Representatives," the statement by Romualdez reads.
"I assure my esteemed colleagues that the gentleman’s agreement will be honored after the approval of the national budget for 2021 on third and final reading on Friday, October 16. Let us set aside politics and focus first on the passage of the national budget as requested by the President," it also says.
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Velasco has claimed that he has numbers on his side, though Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte earlier claimed that majority of the lower chamber were in favor of Cayetano continuing as House Speaker.
"[Velasco] should have been active and partnered with the Speaker in working in Congress. I haven’t seen or heard Cong. Lord be active in any major issue. We don’t see him in Congress. It was really his choice not to be the presumptive Speaker," he said in an interview aired over ANC in September.
'The budget before politics'
In a press briefing Sunday, House leaders called on the lower chamber to prioritize first the budget hearings before the speakership row.
"Whatever clout they have, they should use it for getting the budget passed," Rep. Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan Party-list) said at the hearing. "Let's not use our influence for politics. Whatever we have, let's use all of this for the budget first," he added.
For his part, Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr (Surigao del Sur) said at the briefing: "What they should have done was bring it to plenary. The problem is the deal was only between the two of them...it was not binding. That's why when he offered to resign, it was rejected."
Pichay added that to create a vacancy allowing Velasco to take over, Cayetano would have to resign on his own despite the agreement, whose constitutionality has been questioned in the past, being non-binding. "We are focused on the budget. I don't think it would be a great service if the speaker is going to resign, because the budget will definitely be delayed," he said.
At the press briefing Sunday, Villafuerte challenged Velasco to show the numbers if they truly were on his side.
At a public address earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte slammed lawmakers for the delay, threatening that he would "do it for them" if the budget was not passed on time.
“If you do not solve the problem, then I will solve the problem for you. Mamili kayo (You choose), either we have the positive development where the people will be satisfied, our masters,” he said then.
This came after Cayetano on Tuesday, October 6 moved for the second reading approval of the 2021 budget and the suspension of session until November 16.
In an updated statement later Sunday, Romualdez joined calls to pass the P4.506-trillion outlay before ironing out the speakership issue. "I spoke to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea a while a go, he reconfirmed that President Duterte’s call for a special session under Proclamation No. 1027 is for Congress to resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed national budget," the statement read.
"The President also certified it as an urgent measure."
— Franco Luna with reports from Xave Gregorio
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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
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