Duterte urges Congress to prioritize 2021 budget

President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to prioritize the passage of the 2021 national budget amid a dispute over the speakership.

Duterte brokered a term-sharing deal between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco last year, but now wants Velasco to move his takeover date to December to allow for timely budget deliberations.

Cayetano offered to step down as speaker, but most congressmen rejected the proposal, with Cayetano stating that Velasco was 'too excited' to take over despite legislative priorities.