Sotto, Velasco to meet, discuss legislative priorities
Malacañang is confident about the passage of the proposed 2021 national budget this week given the presence of the “super majority” in the House of Representatives sans the political bickering.
(YANCY LIM / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace has no qualms with the House decision to recall the second-reading approval of the proposed 2021 national budget as long as the measure is passed on time.
“I’m confident though that Speaker (Lord Allan) Velasco, as he promised to the President, can pass it on the 16th,” he said over CNN Philippines Wednesday.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Velasco had vowed to pass the proposed 2021 national budget on third and final reading on Friday, October 16.
“We have a supermajority in the House so I don’t see any problems anymore and now there is no more political maneuvering and bickering, I think the process can proceed,” Roque said.
Following the election of Marinduque Rep. Velasco as the new Speaker, the House of Representatives has reconsidered the second-reading approval of the budget bill to resume the period of debate and amendments.
The deliberations were halted after former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano abruptly moved for the approval of the appropriations bill on second reading last week and suspended the sessions until November 16.
President Duterte had earlier called for a special session of Congress on October 13 to 16 to ensure the timely approval of the budget proposal, which he has certified as urgent.
Roque said there will be “no negative impact” on the budget even if lawmakers reopen the deliberations on the ₱4.506-trillion national budget proposal.
“Reopening the budget will of course result in more discussions but for as long as the discussions are concluded within the period called for by the President for the holding of a special session, this will have no negative effect on the budget itself,” he said.
“For as long as they are able to pass the budget despite reopening debates on it, then that would be still no problem,” he said.
He noted that the House must pass the budget on third and final reading on November 16 so the Senate could commence its plenary discussion on the measure.
“The Senate is already deliberating on the budget but at the committee level. They cannot proceed to a plenary discussion without the receipt of the House budget approved on third and final reading by the House,” he said.
Asked if an extension of the special session is possible, Roque said they remained confident the House will pass the budget bill this week.
If it is not passed on time, Roque noted that some senators have suggested calling for another special session next month.
“There is going to be another recess in November and that will be an opportunity for Congress to finish it,” he said.
He maintained that they are hopeful the two houses of Congress could pass the budget before the end of the year.
“It is absolutely indispensable of course that it is signed within the month of December and published in the Official Gazette and two newspapers of general circulation so it can be effective the first week of January,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sotto will soon meet Velasco to discuss their priorities in legislation.
Sotto said on Wednesday that he spoke to Velasco Tuesday night following the latter’s assumption as leader of the House of Representatives.
“He got in touch last night. No protocol necessary but we agreed to meet soon to discuss legislative matters,” Sotto said in a text message.
The Senate chief said he congratulated the new House speaker and wished him good luck in serving in the remaining months of the 18th Congress.
He said he hopes to maintain the good relations of the Senate and the House, since “we had good relationships with the past leadership.”