Convene and pass budget, House told

Cayetano apologizes; Duterte feels duped by speaker, Velasco says

- ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS and BEN R. ROSARIO

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles asked his former colleagues at the House of Representatives to convene and just pass the proposed ₱4.5-trillion 2021 national budget because the government cannot afford to have any delays.

Nograles made the statement a day after President Duterte broke his silence regarding the speakership row between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, telling the Lower House to resolve the issue or he will do it himself if their dispute will derail the passage of the budget.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque said Duterte’s message was clear – passing the budget on time is important because the country’s COVID-19 response and other programs depend on it.

“We cannot hostage the budget. We cannot afford any delays in the budget,” he told “The Source” on Friday.

“Ang dami nating kailangan ayusin (There’s a lot for us to fix) not only with regard to our response against COVID-19 but also the problem in terms of poverty, hunger, and jumpstarting the economy,” he added.

Cayetano apologizes

Shortly after President Duterte’s public address on Thursday, expressing his displeasure at the House squabble that has derailed the passage of the budget, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano offered his sincere apologies to the President and guaranteed that the Chief Executive’s fears will be addressed.