Sotto: Duterte's special session call stresses urgency of budget approval

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte's call for a special session next week is just one way of stressing the need for the House of Representatives to end the budget impasse.

This is because the legislative calendar already states that Congress shall be in session until October 16.

"Technically it's the same thing. We are really set to have sessions till the 16 anyway. So the order of the President puts emphasis on his call for the HOR to approve the budget on third reading and give the Senate time to study, review and pass the General Appropriations Act," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

He added that with the President's move, the possibility of having a reenacted budget next year can be ruled out.

"Yes, as long as both houses toe the line especially during the bicam. No reenacted budget!" Sotto said.

Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara also appreciated Duterte's decision to call for a special session so that the House could take up the bill and transmit it to the upper chamber as soon as possible.

"Malaking tulong itong kilos ng Pangulo dahil kapag naipasa ng Kamara ang pambansang budget mapapabilis ang pagpadala sa Senado para maumpisahan ang pagtalakay ng mga senador," Angara said in a separate message.

The squabble over the term-sharing agreement in the lower chamber between House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco is being viewed by some senators as the root cause of the early suspension of session among congressmen.

Approving the budget only on second reading, the House abruptly voted to suspend its session on Tuesday.

Cayetano has vowed to pass the national budget on third reading once session resumes on November 16—a month delayed compared to the chamber's initial commitment to transmit the budget to the Senate before Congress goes on break.

Before calling for a special session, Duterte warned Cayetano and Velasco to resolve their issues and ensure the timely passage of the budget.

"Either you resolve the issue sa impasse ninyo diyan and pass the budget legally and constitutionally. 'Pag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo," Duterte said.

Cayetano accepted Duterte's call for a special session next week. — DVM, GMA News