Lagman asks Duterte to extend special session

MANILA, Philippines – The four-day special session called by President Duterte to approve the P4.5 trillion national budget for next year may not be enough and should be extended for another four days, opposition representative Edcel Lagman said on Saturday. .

Also Saturday, senators said they would resume earlier than scheduled on Nov. 16 after Congress goes into recess on Oct. 16 to ensure they have enough time to finish budget deliberations.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte hopes to sign the budget bill into law before the new year.

The president issued Proclamation No. 1027 establishing the special session for October 13-16, after President Alan Peter Cayetano abruptly suspended House sessions on Tuesday following the second-reading approval of House Bill 7727 , or the General Appropriations Bill of 2021 (GAB).

His move came amid a leadership dispute with Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco, who will assume the presidency on October 14 under a shared-term “gentlemen’s agreement” negotiated by the president himself.

The prospect of a rebuilt 2020 budget followed aborted debates on the budget, prompting the president to call a special session.

‘Long tradition’

Lagman said four days may not be long enough to ensure timely passage of the spending bill.

“An additional four-day period from October 19-22 is necessary for the committee and individual amendments to the appropriation measure to be considered and approved by the Plenary before the second reading,” he said.

According to Lagman, the “long tradition” of creating a “small committee” to make amendments after the budget bill is passed at second reading should be abandoned.

“(This is) to ensure transparency in the proceedings, which is not achieved with the furtive conclave of the small panel,” he said.

Albay Representative Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, said that, although remote, he warned that operating with a renewed budget would compromise the country’s pandemic response and recovery efforts.

“Because the Bayanihan to Recover as One will expire at the end of the year, we will not be able to realign a reworked budget,” he said.

Furthermore, a renewed budget will threaten the government’s ability to purchase vaccines and therapies in 2021, according to Salceda. “It also threatens our ability to buy (personal protective equipment) for healthcare workers. Therefore, preventing a budget from being re-enacted is a matter of life and death for thousands of Filipinos. “

Alan’s Last Call

In a Facebook Live message, Cayetano said that he has been holding virtual meetings with members of the majority of the Chamber to “examine” the proposed financing for each sector and area specified in the GAB.

“I appeal to all members: let’s put politics aside in the meantime. Let’s help each other to pass the budget, ”he said.

Velasco, in response, said: “At least for my group, I can assure you that we will focus on the budget.”

The Senate will hold a caucus on Monday to reach consensus on Senator Panfilo Lacson’s proposal to resume sessions before November 16, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a text message.

The president of the Senate, Vicente Sotto III, supported Lacson’s proposal. “All my colleagues will agree, I’m sure,” Sotto said in an interview with dwIZ radio.

Lacson’s Tip

Lacson, also at dwIZ, suggested resuming sessions a week earlier than scheduled if the House passes the budget at the third and final reading next week.

The Senate session could be held on November 9. After the budget is sponsored, senators would need a few days to study the report on the spending measure before plenary deliberations could begin, he said.

“I think it is a reasonable suggestion. It would also give us enough time, ”he said.

Sotto said that with the special session called by the president, a budget for 2021 will likely not be re-enacted.

The only possible downside he sees is whether there would be disputes during the bicameral conference, when both houses reconcile their versions of the budget bill.

“As long as both houses keep the line, there will be no problem in the bicam,” he said.

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