Palace asks Congress to submit 2021 budget before Dec. 2nd week

Malacañang is urging Congress to submit the 2021 national budget to President Duterte before the second week of December.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. explained that an earlier submission allows the Executive department sufficient time for a line-by-line review and to consider specific line-item vetoes.

This early submission aims to prevent the government from operating on a reenacted budget in January 2021.

The passage of the national budget was initially threatened by the speakership dispute in the House of Representatives, leading President Duterte to certify the bill as urgent and call for a special session.

The House of Representatives, now under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, passed the P4.506-trillion national budget on October 16, with the Senate expected to introduce amendments next month.

The proposed 2021 budget is intended to fund crucial areas such as healthcare improvement, food security, public and digital infrastructure investments, and pandemic relief for communities.