BY GENALYN KABILING
Malacañang is confident about the passage of the proposed 2021national budget this week given the presence of the “super majority” in the House of Representatives after weeks of bickering.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the Palace has no qualms with the House decision to recall the second-reading approval of the proposed 2021 national budget as long as the measure is passed on time.
“I’m confident though that Speaker Velasco as he promised to the President can pass it on the 16th,” he said over CNN Philippines Wednesday.
“We have a super majority in the House so I don’t see any problems anymore and now there is no more political maneuverings and bickering, I think the process can proceed,” he added.
Following the election of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as new Speaker, the House of Representatives has reconsidered the second-reading approval of the budget bill to resume the period of debate and amendments.
The deliberations were halted after former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano abruptly moved for the approval of the appropriations bill on second reading last week and suspended the sessions until November 16.
President Duterte has called for a special session of Congress on October 13 to 16 to ensure the timely approval of the budget proposal, which he has certified as urgent. (Genalyn Kabiling)
