Senate blames House for P4.5-trillion budget delay

Senate President Vicente Sotto III asserted that the Senate should not be blamed for the anticipated delay in passing the 2021 national budget, attributing a month-long delay to the House of Representatives.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano stated that the House's approval and transmittal of the P4.506-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) to the Senate would only be delayed by a day.

The House initially targeted October 14 for approval but instead planned to approve the bill on November 16 and send it to the Senate a day after.

Senators believe that the House's suspension of sessions ahead of the October 17 recess will push back their budget deliberations by a month, potentially leading to a reenacted budget.

Sotto expressed confidence that the budget bill would be transmitted on November 17, but still anticipates a month-long delay.

Cayetano countered that if a delay or reenactment occurs, it would be due to the Senate, not the House, as they are only discussing a one-day difference.