By John Clifford Lintao
THE Senate, voting 22-0, approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, which is anchored on the theme “Reset, Rebound, and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability.”
The passage comes well within the timeline set to ensure that the bill gets President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature before the end of the year.
Interestingly, the 2021 national budget becomes the first general appropriations bill to be approved by the Senate using hybrid hearings and sessions due to the threat of COVID-19.
Having been certified as urgent by Malacañang, the budget was approved by the Senate on second and third reading on the same day.
The bicameral conference committee meeting is expected to start on Saturday and should it run smoothly, a bicameral report may be signed and approved by lawmakers on December 9. The enrolled budget bill may then be submitted to Malacañang on December 16 for the President’s signature.