MANILA, Philippines — Inihayag ni House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco na hindi nila sisingitan ng “pork” ang P4.506 trilyong national budget para sa 2021.
Sa botong 267 pabor at anim na tutol ay pormal na naaprubahan sa ikatlo at pinal na pagbasa ang General Appropriations Bill (GAB) nitong Biyernes ng gabi ang huling araw ng ipinatawag na special session ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Ang Punong Ehekutibo ay nagpatawag ng special session matapos naman ang girian sa Speakership sa pagitan ni Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano na napatalsik sa puwesto at ng bagong Speaker na si Velasco.
“We are making sure there is no pork in the said budget,” pahayag ni Velasco.
Kabilang sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan na makakatanggap ng mataas na alokasyon ay ang Department of Education, P754.4-bilyon; Department of Public Works and Highways, P667.3-B; Department of the Interior and Local Government, P246.1-B; Department of National Defense, P209.1-B; Department of Health (DOH), P203.1-B; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P171.2-B; Department of Transportation, P143.6-B; Department of Agriculture, P66.4-B; Judiciary, P43.5 bilyon at Department of Labor and Employment, P27.5-B.
Agad namang pinasalamatan at pinuri ng Malacañang ang Kamara sa pagpasa ng nasabing budget.
“We thank the House of Representatives for passing on third and final reading the 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on time or within the special session called by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” pahayag ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. - Malou Escudero