President Duterte has called on Congress for a special session to resume deliberations on the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for 2021 to avoid any delays, Malacañang announced.

In a video message on Friday evening, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the four-day special session will start on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

He likewise said that the President has certified the budget bill as urgent.

"Pinagbibigay-alam po natin sa sambayanang Pilipino na nagpatawag po ng special session si Pangulong Duterte para sa Kongreso. Ito po ay para sa October 13 hanggang October 16. Ito po ay para talakayin ang (We would like to inform the public that President Duterte has called Congress for a special session from October 13 to 16 to talk about the) national budget," he said.

"Sa kaparehong proklamasyon po ay sinertify (certify) as urgent ng ating Pangulo ang proposed 2021 budget (In the same proclamation, the President also certified the proposed 2021 budget as urgent).

According to Roque, Duterte made the move to avoid further delays in the passage of the budget.

"Ginawa po ito ng Presidente dahil importanteng maipasa, maisabatas ang proposed 2021 budget dahil ito po ang gagamitin natin laban sa COVID-19 pandemic (The President made this decision because it is important that the proposed budget is passed and enacted because we will use this to address the COVID-19 pandemic)," he said.

Based on Proclamation No. 1027 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on October 9, the President called for the special session so Congress can "resume congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and to avoid any further delays on its prompt passage."

Article VI, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution states that the Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine until 30 days before the opening of its next regular session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

It likewise allows the President to call a special session at any time.

President Duterte's decision to call Congress for a special session came after he warned the House of Representatives to settle their issues as their decision to suspend the session and pass the budget on the second reading could delay its prompt passage.

In a speech on Thursday evening, Duterte said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco should not drag him into their dispute over the speakership.

He told the Lower House to resolve the matter because if it derails the timely passage of the 2021 budget, he will take matters into his own hands.

"I'm just appealing to you. Gusto ko lang sabihin in one straight statement: Either you resolve the issue sa impasse ninyo diyan (about your impasse) and pass the budget legally and constitutionally. 'Pag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo (If you don't, then I'll do it for you)," the President said on Thursday.

"Hindi ako nananakot...  Basta sinasabi ko lang (I'm not trying to threaten you. I'm just saying), if you do not solve the problem, then I will solve the problem for you. Mamili kayo (You choose)," he added.

Duterte told Cayetano and Velasco early this month to honor the term-sharing agreement he brokered for them. Cayetano is supposed to serve as Speaker for 15 months before Velasco takes over for the remaining 21 months of their term.