Lawmakers are one with President Duterte’s call on Congress to conduct a special session on Oct. 13 to 16 to ensure the passage of the proposed 2021 budget before the end of the year, dispelling the possibility of having a reenacted 2021 national budget.

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the Chief Executive’s call will definitely move forward the expeditious approval of the country’s  2021 spending plan. 
 
"That’s good! It will now allay the fears of the members of the House and the Senate and the people that we will have a reenacted budget next year,” he said in a text message. 

In calling for a special session for the enactment of the 2021 national budget, the President certified as urgent the passage of House Bill No. 7727 or the P4.506-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
 
“The President can very well do that under the Constitution,” Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, former Speaker, said in a text message.

He urged his colleagues to set aside differences and push for the immediate approval of the next year’s national budget. 

“The passage of the budget is the common interest of (all) congressmen,” Alvarez said. 

Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, agreed with Alvarez, saying that Duterte exercised his presidential prerogative to call for a special session
lawfully and in a timely manner. 

“In doing so, I believe that he has the best interest of the people in mind. Ultimately, we all call for the swift and smooth passage of the 2021 budget in a manner that is transparent and equitable to all,” she said. 

Ang Probinsyano partylist Rep. Ronnie Ong said there is no doubt that his colleagues will all heed the President’s call.  "This is beyond politics and we have to make sure the 2021 budget is pass for the Filipino people specially during this pandemic,” he said. 

House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez expressed the House leadership’s commitment to "immediately act next week on the request” of Duterte to pass the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 on third and final reading.

"The very transparent process of budget deliberations will always be observed to ensure its legality and constitutionality in our main intention to serve the people,” he said.

He appealed to his colleagues to give their full cooperation in ensuring the swift enactment of legal and constitutional GAB as requested by President Duterte. 

"The members of the super majority and our colleagues from the constructive minority bloc are one with the Duterte administration in the implementation of its comprehensive plan to rebuild the Philippine economy, defeat coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and ensure that government services are not derailed,” Romualdez said.