THE House of Representatives will submit to the Senate the approved 2021 national budget on October 28.
Given the circumstances plus the period needed for the amendments, chairman of the House appropriations committee Eric Go Yap said this is the best the House can do for the budget.
However, Yap told the Senate that they cannot submit a hard copy since it will take 10 days to print.
“Hindi ko pwedeng ipahiya ang Speaker ko. It will be Oct 28. But hindi siya yung hard copy. Kung ano yung sinubmit namin sa NPO, yun yung ibibigay namin sa kanila (Senate) which is yung print lang, yung sa white paper lang,” Yap said in an interview.
Yap said after the House passes the 2021 budget on third reading, agencies will be asked to submit by October 19 their proposed amendments to the small committee tasked to assess and scrutinize amendments. The small panel aims to finish its job by October 21.
On Friday night, the House approved on third and final reading the proposed national budget for 2021 which is pegged at P4.5 trillion or 9.9 percent higher than 2020 budget.
Meanwhile, Yap denied allegations that congressmen will insert their individual amendments in the budget.
Under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Yap said the budget will be pork-free and park-free.
Yap added that amendments will be coming from the government agencies.
“Pipilitin natin kung iyan ang gusto ni Senate President. Siguro gagagwa kami ng paraan para mabigay sa kanila. Ngayon kapag nagreklamo pa sila (senators) doon eh wala na kong masasabi talaga dun. Suko na ko. Taas na ang kamay ko,” Yap said.
Earlier, the Senate told the House to submit the budget at least before October 30.
Some senators raised fears that post-approval amendments could be made in the proposed 2021 budget.
