Philippines
National
House leader cites colleagues for swift ratification of P4.5-T 2021 nat'l budget
House leader cites colleagues for swift ratification of P4.5-T 2021 nat'l budget
House Majority Leader Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez has attributed the expeditious ratification of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 to his colleagues’ hard work and commitment.
The chairperson of the House Committee on Rules hailed the House members led by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco "for working very hard” in ensuring the immediate ratification of the 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which is expected to strengthen the Duterte government’s pandemic response.
“We acted with dispatch according to the desire of the President to help the economy weather the ill-effects of pandemic. I thank Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and my colleagues for performing under pressure just to ensure the immediate ratification of next year’s national budget,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez moved for the ratification of the spending bill during last wedneday’s session.
Ako Bisaya party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon thanked his colleagues for ensuring that the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, assistance to low-income families, and improvement of health facilities are funded under the 2021 national budget.
“Our leaders are working very hard to serve the people first in this time of coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. I personally commend the tandem of
Speaker Velasco and Majority Leader Romualdez for doing their very best in ensuring that the President’s fiscal measure is passed on time,” he said.
"The P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 is the first budget to be crafted in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and will help drive the country’s response and recovery efforts,” Lagon said.
ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said before Christmas, the enrolled copy of the 2021 GAB will be available for President Duterte’s signature.
He said among the changes introduced by the House, which were adopted by bicameral conference panel, are the additional funding of P44.8 billion for the “Build, Build, Build” program under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); P2 billion for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE); P434.4 million for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program; P462 million for the Medical Health Assistance Program; and P100 million for mental health program.