Palace welcomes early passage of P405T national budget

MALACAÑANG is happy over the early passage of the proposed P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 in Congress adding that it would allow President Rodrigo Duterte ample time to review and veto items if necessary.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured the public that the administration is taking on all necessary remedies to make sure that the government will operate on a new budget by January 1, 2021 even as he hinted on the President’s strong preference to review every bit of what has been included in next year’s operating budget.

“Pero hindi po isasakripisyo o isu-surrender ng Palasyo, ng Presidente, ‘yung kanyang kapangyarihan na pag-aralan ang budget at siguraduhin na walang dapat na item ng appropriation na dapat ma-veto,” he said.

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

In fact, Duterte exercised his power to veto when he removed P95.37 billion worth of public works appropriations from the original P3.757-trillion 2020 spending plan since the items, which came as a result of post-ratification budget realignments made by lawmakers, were not within the “programmed priorities” of the government.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified on Wednesday the spending bill, which is expected to fund measures aimed at improving the country’s healthcare system, ensuring food security, increasing investments in public and digital infrastructure, and helping communities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around P23 billion has been realigned for the rehabilitation of communities affected by the recent strong typhoons that hit the country.

Interestingly, the 2021 national budget almost failed to make it following a leadership crisis at the lower legislative chamber, compelling Duterte to certify the bill as urgent and call for a special session of Congress in October.

“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,” Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said in late November.

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