Pia Cayetano thumbs down discussion on ‘reenacted budget’ during Senate hearing

Senator Pia Cayetano appealed to her fellow senators not to raise the possibility of having a reenacted budget in 2021 during a hearing on Friday.

Chairing the finance subcommittee which deliberates the Department of Health's proposed P203 billion, Cayetano said she does not want the platform to be used for such talks.

"It just fuels the fire in this political charade. I am privy to the fact that the Speaker of the House has committed that there will be no reenacted budget and he has relayed this to the President," said Cayetano, sister of Speaker Alan Peter.

"There's no reenacted budget that will happen... Huwag na sanang i-discuss 'yang reenacted budget na 'yan kasi hindi mangyayari," she added.

She made the manifestation after Senator Christopher "Bong" Go  asked Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on the possible impact of a reenacted budget to the COVID-19 response.

In response, Go said he is willing to go on a special session during the congressional break, if need be, just to pass the 2021 budget on time.

"Wala naman hong nagbago sa proseso natin. We have been conducting hearings while the House is also conducting their hearings and on the floor, so we are on target," Cayetano replied.

The Cayetano in the lower chamber has a standing leadership squabble with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

The two congressmen are both allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Tuesday, the House suddenly suspended its session ahead of October 14—the date Velasco claims Cayetano must step down to honor their term-sharing agreement.

The suspension of session in the lower chamber left the third reading of the budget bill hanging until November 16.—LDF, GMA News