President Duterte will scrutinize the 2021 national budget to make sure that nothing unconstitutional will be signed into law.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after both houses of Congress approved on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for next year.

In his Thursday presser, Roque said that while they have not yet received a copy of the national budget, the Palace knows how important it is that the budget is passed immediately.

"Hindi pa po natatanggap ng Palasyo ang supposedly copy ng 2021 Budget. Patuloy po kaming naghihintay (The Palace has not yet received the supposed copy of the 2021 Budget. We are waiting for it)," he said.

"Bibigyan po natin ng kasiguraduhan ay bibilisan naman po ng Palasyo ang pagsusuri sa budget para malaman kung merong specific line item na ibi-veto ang Presidente (We assure you that we will work fast in looking into the budget to determine if there are specific line items that the Presidente needs to veto)," he added.

Roque said the executive branch will do its best to pass the budget on time because the country cannot afford to have a reenacted budget, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Siyempre lahat po 'yan dapat mangyari ngayon na dahil kinakailangan magkaroon tayo ng budget pagdating ng a-uno ng Enero (Of course, all of these need to happen immediately because we need to have a budget by January 1)," he said.

"We will take all steps necessary para maging batas po ito (so this will be signed into law) on time," he added.

However, the Palace official said that despite the urgency, President Duterte will not waive his authority to scrutinize the budget.

"Hindi po isasakripisyo o isu-surrender ng Palasyo o ng Presidente ang kanyang kapangyarihan na pag-aralan ang budget (The President will not surrender his power to study the budget)," Roque said.

"So the President will still exercise his power of review and his power of line veto," he added.