Palace hopes proposed 2021 budget on Duterte’s table soon to give him time to review

December 1, 2020

Malacanang expressed hope on Tuesday that Congress could transmit the proposed budget for next year to the Office of the President until next week to give President Rodrigo Duterte enough time to review it.

In a televised press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte needs to thoroughly check the enrolled bill.

"We hope, if not this week, then the next week, because otherwise we may run out of time to review the (proposed) budget," he said.

The congressional bicameral conference committee has convened to finalize the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for 2021.

Roque said Duterte has to determine if he would exercise his line veto power on the General Appropriations Bill before he signs it into law.

He added that once the bill is approved by the President, it has to be published first before it becomes effective. Celerina Monte/DMS