Sotto says the 2021 national budget will be passed during first week of December
November 23, 2020 09:15 PM
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that the Senate will be passing its version of the 2021 national budget this week so the bill can be ratified by December 6-8.
“I expect it to be done by December 6, with or without contentious provisions."
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that Senate will be passing its version of the P4.5-T 2021 national budget on third reading next week so the bicameral version will be ready between the dates December 6-8.
“Even on holidays, there will be bicam, and if we get lucky, we might be able to ratify on December 6, 7, or 8, if there’s no deadlock,” Sotto said.
Last week, the upper chamber finished its plenary deliberations on the 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Sotto added that he hopes to finalize everything within the week.
President Duterte had certified the 2021 national budget as urgent which quickens the approval of the bill in Congress.
“I expect it to be done by December 6, with or without contentious provisions,” the Senate President added.
267-6 votes in the House
The measure had earned 267 affirmative votes and six negative votes during the third and final reading in the House of Representatives last October 16 when President Duterte had called for a special session to fast-track the bill's approval.
The lower chamber passed on third and final reading the proposed ₱4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 last October 16.
The Senate received the House's version of the GAB on October 27, a day earlier than Senate President Sotto's request.
Once the Senate approves its own version of the bill, the bicameral conference committee will be tasked to settle the provisions from both chambers.
Sotto hopes the Senate will be able to pass their version of the bill on third reading by November 24 or 25.
