an update about the proposed budget law: how the President reacted for the delay

This was the status of how the proposed 2021 National budget in the Congress/Senate as of today.

We all know the situation we are in right now. We are experiencing a worldwide pandemic that only God knows when it will end. This year has been painful because of the many incidents and worldwide issues that happened and to be honest, no one knew that a virus would impact everyone so gravely. The last day of January 2020 was when a Chinese national who came here in the PH got infected and she was the first case. That was when the chaos and alarming news start to take place. Classes are suspended. Quarantine becomes our resort. I will not discuss facts about the deadly virus but how it affected the 2021 budget preparation.

Before this global crisis, the daily situation among Congress representatives and legislative activities are all done face to face, obviously, because a deadly virus is not yet present. However, this global pandemic changed the process on how the Congress and Senate enact bills to law. 

Last March 9, 2020, the Philippine Senate suspended regular sessions with the determination to “prevent further spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing as a whole institution.” Hence, regular sessions are suspended due to recess,

After all the social distancing protocol, the consequence was that the third reading was delayed for a week and that is how a special session for the House of Representatives was the solution presented to avoid delay on the ratification of the 2021 budget before Nov. 16.

On October 8, President Duterte gave subtle warning stating "Either you resolve the issue sa impasse 'nyo diyan and pass the budget legally and constitutionally. 'Pag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo. Hindi ako nananakot"

The overflowing power of this subtle warning is the reason why the Senate did their task instead of being too lax. After all, they are paid to pass bills into law.

The speaker of the House of Representatives Senator Peter Cayetano addressed the delay because of his suspension to the third reading, later on, ensuring no more delays to the progress of the budget process.

The ultimatum was to pass the new budget before the 2020 budget bill expires which makes the Senate worrisome that the third reading needs plenty of time for deliberations and the tight schedule, therefore,

“Malacañang pushed the Senate to propose the budget by October 28 to the Senate  for the Congress to ratify it early enough for President’s Duterte’s signature.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2020)

On October 27, 2020, the House passed the 2021 budget bill to the Senate one day ahead of schedule.

 This is kinda funny for me. I mean, they were scared of the President after his warning that they passed the bill earlier than expected (reminding myself cramming because of our terror professor) but really, what I noticed here:

1. The House and the Senate are lucky that they have the privileged to work at home without any worries but still get compensated more than they deserve to. No, I am not bitter. I just feel bad for those who have to stay away from home to do their job and still get the bare minimum, especially, they work harder jobs. Life is unfair.

2. Why do I feel like they rushed everything just to pass it on time? You know what happens when that happens right? The outcome is. . . trash and unpolished. I mean, this is our budget we are talking about. It needs long hours of deliberation in order to attain the best plan but the Congress and Senate did a bad job rushing it and I am just HOPING that the appropriations make sense and allocated for a great purpose.

3. I am disappointed. Well, I can understand that the budget for DOH last time was lacking because we didn't see this virus happening but now that we are all aware about it, the government still doesn't see the need to prioritize our health care department. Why can't they see that we are paralyzed because our own doctors and nurses and researchers are not properly compensated? The nerve of the administration to just say 'thank you' to the UP researchers who made the test kit without properly funding them. Because of the researchers, we got to have an inexpensive test kits compared to the ones provided by other countries. The way the House approached them was disappointing.

4. This is our money at stake. The fact that they point fingers whenever problems arise just upsets me. I wish they could value how important where our money goes, and not spend it for personal motives but for the betterment of our nation. Sadly, they only do their best when they are scolded and I am not satisfied with how they approach this situation, knowing that they are privileged to afford expensive hospital bills and stay at comfortable homes with cartons of alcohol.

   What are your thoughts about this?

   
   
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