Malacañang is hoping that President Duterte can sign the proposed P4.5-trillion 2021 budget before the year ends now that the timely passage of the bill seems to have been ensured.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after President Duterte called Congress to a special session next week to resume deliberation on the proposed budget.
In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB, Roque said that Malacañang is hoping that President Duterte can sign the budget before the end of the year.
"Sana po bago mag-recess ang Kongreso or pagka-recess nila at least tapos na para bago mag-bagong taon mapirmahan na ng Presidente (We hope that the budget will be ready before or when Congress goes on recess so the President can sign it before the year ends)," he said.
According to the Palace official, the 2021 national budget is important because the government's COVID-19 response depends on it.
"Alam ninyo parang band-aid lang iyong ginawa nating Bayanihan 1 at 2, ang kabuuang ng ating response talaga sa COVID-19, nandito po sa 2021 budget (The two Bayanihan Acts were just like band-aid solutions to the situation. Our entire response really rests on the 2021 budget)," he said.
Duterte called Congress last Friday to a special session from Oct. 13 to 16 after the proposed budget may be delayed due to the political showdown in the House of Representatives.
The President likewise certified the proposed 2021 budget as urgent.
According to Roque, Duterte made the move to ensure that the 2021 budget will be passed on time.
"Panigurado po niya iyan ‘no para maisabatas na itong ating proposed 2021 budget. Dahil alam naman natin na itong budget na ito ay budget para labanan ang COVID-19 (He did this to ensure that the proposed 2021 budget will be enacted. We know how important this budget is in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic)," he said.
"Bagama’t naniniwala rin naman siya na gagawin ang lahat para hindi nga magkaroon ng reenacted budget, eh mas masisiguro ngayon na dahil nagkaroon ng special session nga (Even though he knows that lawmakers will do everything to make sure that we won't have a reenacted budget, we can now ensure that it won't happen because there will be a special session)," he added.
Duterte's decision to call Congress to 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 Thursday, Duterte said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco should not drag him into their dispute over the speakership.
He told the 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.
"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.