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Romualdez: Budget before politics

Martin Romualdez
House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Sunday urged his colleagues to approve President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s proposed P4.506 trillion 2021 national budget on third and final reading before injecting politics during special session.

“Budget before politics. Let us pass the national budget as requested by the President for 2021 on third and final reading on Friday, October 16,” said Romuladez, chairman of the powerful House committee on rules.

“I spoke to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea a while a go. He reconfirmed that President Duterte’s call for a special session under Proclamation No. 1027 is for Congress to resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed national budget. The President also certified it as an urgent measure,” Romualdez stressed.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr., president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said “We shall stick to the order of the President to expedite the passage of the national budget for 2021 in order to address the pandemic problem in our country for the succeeding year.”

“Lawmakers should focus on the task at hand which is to pass the national budget. Let’s not inject politics and avoid infighting during the special session because it is outside the message of the President under Proclamation No. 1027. Sa NUP, budget muna bago pulitika,” Barzaga stressed.

Reports said that the camp of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will attempt to take control of the House leadership from Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano this week.