Sotto: PRRD will sign the 2021 national budget on December 25
December 22, 2020 10:11 PM
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said President Duterte will sign the 2021 national budget on Christmas Day, December 25.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III announced that President Duterte is expected to sign the 2021 national budget on December 25.
Last Friday (December 18), the printed book form of the General Appropriations Act was sent to Malacañang. Prior to submission, the measure was signed by the Senate chief himself, and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
However, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, President Duterte is scheduled to sign the budget bill on December 28 in Davao City. Five representatives, each from the Senate and the House of Representatives will be present at the signing, said Roque.
Focused on pandemic recovery
In anticipation of a delay in the passage of the spending bill, President Duterte called for a special session in Congress to avoid a reenacted budget for 2021.
As a result, The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the P4.5-trillion 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on schedule, last December 9.
The 2021 national budget gave special attention to COVID-19 recovery efforts by allocating P72-billion for vaccine procurement and providing P287.47-billion to the health sector, which includes the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Likewise, an additional P2.5-billion for vaccine purchase is also included in the DOH's budget.
Another sector that has the largest allocation is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with a sum of P694.82-billion, which will be used to fund rehabilitation projects for roads and infrastructure wrecked by the recent typhoons.
Furthermore, under the 2021 budget, the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive P708.18-billion; Local Government, P247-billion; Defense, P205.47-billion; Social Welfare, P176.65-billion; Transportation, P87.44-billion; Agriculture, P68.62-billion; and lastly, Labor with P36.6-billion.
