Duterte calls Congress to special session on Oct. 13 to 16 to resume budget deliberations

President Rodrigo Duterte called for a special session of Congress to ensure the timely passage of the proposed 2021 national budget, Malacañang said Friday.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the special session is scheduled for October 13 to 16 “to resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and to avoid any further delays on its prompt passage.”

Section 15, Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the President “may call a special session at any time.”

Some senators earlier raised the possibility of a reenacted 2020 budget after the House on Tuesday suspended its session until November 16 without passing the national spending bill on final reading.

The abrupt suspension took place amid a leadership squabble between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, both allies of the President who brokered a term-sharing agreement for the speakership last year.

On Thursday, Duterte told congressmen to resolve the leadership issue and pass the P4.506-trillion proposed budget “legally and constitutionally" or else he would step in.

The President also said that Filipinos could not afford to have a delayed budget because of its provisions for COVID-19 response and relief.

He also urged lawmakers not to drag him into the speakership mess. -NB, GMA News