A special session of Congress may be called to facilitate the passage of the proposed 2021 national budget if the lawmakers run out of time for the approval of the spending measure by mid-December, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque raised the possible option of President Duterte in a bid to prevent a reenacted budget for next year as the country battles the spread of the coronavirus.

“Kung kinakailangan po talaga eh mayroon naman po ng December 14 ‘no na adjournment for Christmas ang Kongreso. Kung talagang kinakailangan, after the 14th, doon po magpapatawag ng special session. Wala naman pong prejudice iyan (If it is really needed, Congress will adjourn for Christmas on December 14. If really needed, after the 14th, a special session may be called. There is no prejudice there),” he said during a Palace press briefing.

“Kung kinakailangan magpatawag ng special session pagdating ng December 14, Malacañang will do it,” he added.

But for now, the Palace remained optimistic that there is still enough time for the two houses of Congress to pass the budget proposal. 

The Palace earlier pushed for the timely approval of the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget to bankroll vital programs needed for response and recovery in the face of the coronavirus emergency.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives however abruptly suspended its session until November 16 after passing the budget bill on second reading. The latest development came amid the escalating leadership dispute between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Senate leaders have expressed dismay with the early House session break and raised concerns the budget proposal may not be passed on time.

A new budget proposal is usually passed before the end of year or else the government will have a reenacted budget, a scenario that the Palace does not want especially since the government needs sufficient funds to address the impact of the global health emergency next year.

In his televised briefing, Roque explained that that the suspension of the House session should be not be a reason to delay the budget deliberations at the Senate.

Although the Lower House passed the budget bill only on second reading, he said the Senate could still proceed with their budget discussions at the committee level.  He invoked a 1994 court ruling in the case of Tolentino vs. Secretary of Finance, where it was ruled that the Constitution does not prohibit the Senate from acting on a proposed legislative measure “in anticipation of its receipt of the bill from the House.”

Come November when the House passes the budget on third and final reading, he said there will still be enough time for plenary deliberations in the Senate.

"Hindi naman dahilan para maantala 'yung deliberations sa committee level sa Senado ng ating budget 'yung nangyari sa Kamara de Representante. Sa tingin ko pagdating ng November 16 yata ang sinabi ng House Speaker natin na ma-approve nila on third and final reading ay may sapat pa rin namang panahon (What happened in the House of Representatives is not a reason to delay the deliberations of the budget at the Senate committee level. House Speaker committed to approve the budget on third and final reading on November 16 so I think there is enough time)," he said.

"Kung hindi, Disyembre 14 naman ang kanilang recess puwede humingi ng special session para matapos ang budget (If not, since their recess is scheduled on December 14, a special session may be asked to finish the budget)," he added.

In the same press briefing, Roque stressed the importance of the approval of the 2021 budget proposal, calling it the government's COVID budget.

He said the new expenditure budget will bankroll programs needed for the  recovery of the economy and to address the need of sectors affected by the pandemic.  The proposed budget is expected to prioritize the social services sector and funds health-related COVID programs to address the pandemic.

"It's a very important budget. It is the first budget na kinunsidera ang COVID, ang kabuuan ng stimulus package ay nandito sa 2021 proposed national budget (It is the first budget that considered COVID... our entire stimulus package is included in the 2021 proposed national budget," he said.