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Senate ends period of debates for proposed P4.5-T nat'l budget for 2021


The Senate closed the period of interpellation for the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 early Saturday morning.

The senators held a marathon of sessions since Monday for the debates, starting as early as 10 a.m. and ending past midnight most of the time.

Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sonny Angara thanked his colleagues "for sticking to the timetable despite the late hours."

He reminded them that they may submit their proposed amendments to the budget bill until the deadline on Sunday evening.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said it is possible that the budget would be approved on second and third readings no later than Tuesday next week, November 24.

Quarantine

Before the session adjourned, Senator Richard Gordon told his colleagues who were present in the Senate to observe if they would develop "symptoms."

"If one of us got exposed to one of our colleagues yesterday, the incubation period, Migz, is five days. If we get the symptoms, we immediately do something about it," Gordon told the majority leader who was present at the session hall.

"The suspect is here on Wednesday. So that's Wednesday, we are now Friday," Zubiri responded.

"You have the weekend. If you start feeling a little oozy or whatever then you start seeing your doctor and start quarantining yourselves," Gordon, chair of the Philippine Red Cross, said.

It was not immediately made clear whether they were talking about a COVID-19 infection but Zubiri remarked that Gordon runs "the best testing center in the Philippines."

Though virtual attendance is recognized in Senate sessions, some senators and their staff along with resource persons from various government agencies were physically present for the budget deliberations this week. -- BAP, GMA News

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