Duterte urges lawmakers to pass 2021 budget on time

President Rodrigo Duterte is urging lawmakers to pass the P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 on time, emphasizing its importance as the country's largest stimulus package for post-COVID-19 recovery.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that any delays in the budget's passage are "non-negotiable" for the President.

The call for timely passage comes amidst internal squabbles within the House of Representatives concerning infrastructure fund allocations for legislative districts.

Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. questioned large infrastructure fund allocations for Taguig City and Camarines Sur, claiming Taguig City was allocated PHP8 billion and Camarines Sur PHP11.8 billion.

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte refuted these claims, labeling them as a tactic by supporters of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco to disrupt the budget's timely passage.

Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte confirmed he had communicated with House appropriations committee chairperson Eric Yap about potentially declaring the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant, with the Mindanao bloc considering such a move.