Bong Go urges fellow legislators to ensure timely passage of 2021 budget despite issues surrounding the House Speakership

In an interview after the launching of the country's 85th Malasakit Center at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City on Friday, October 2, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go urged his fellow legislators from both Houses of Congress to ensure timely passage of the 2021 national budget despite issues surrounding the House Speakership and, most especially, amid the ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"Kung sinuman ang magiging speaker, pakiusap lang po, dapat pumasa ang budget, 'wag n'yo pong ipasa sa tao ang burden na magkaroon na naman tayo ng reenacted budget," Go urged.

"Kapag magkaroon tayong reenacted budget ngayong 2021, alam n'yo ang magsa-suffer ang mga Pilipino. Tandaan n'yo po ito, kapag hindi po naipasa ang budget, may COVID po tayo ngayon, at wala tayong budget sa 2021, magsa-suffer ang mga Pilipino, so challenge ko 'yan kung sinuman ang Speaker," Go reiterated.

"Ang importante sa akin, pumasa ang budget on time and even the President, 'yun din po ang gusto niyang mangyari na 'wag na pong magkaroon ng reenacted budget," he added.

The Senator further highlighted that the government may lose billions of pesos a day if a reenacted budget will be implemented. "Lahat tayo magsa-suffer and government will lose billions of pesos a day pag reenacted budget," he said.

Go, then, reminded that the proposed budget should be approved as soon as possible and should be finalized by December of this year.

According to Go, this is to ensure that the General Appropriations Act of 2021 can be immediately implemented next year, taking into consideration the necessary government priority programs and delivery of critical services needed to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

"Dapat po by December, may budget na tayo at para po mapirmahan ng Presidente. At pagtuntong ng January 1, meron na tayong budget," Go said.

"Paano po pag wala 'yung tulong para sa mga Pilipino? Paano sila? 'Yung tulong ng mga agencies, tulong sa medical ng mga Pilipino, sa mga frontliners natin? Bakit hayaan natin silang magsa-suffer dahil di po magkaintindihan kung sino ang maging speaker?" the Senator lamented.

As for the issue on the speakership itself, the Senator declined to give comments, saying "Alam mo, bilang isang senador, no comment na po ako dyan dahil andito kami sa Senado at hindi naman ako isa sa mga bumoboto ng Speaker. Karapatan po 'yan ng bawat kongresista kung sino ang pipiliin nilang Speaker," the Senator said.

"Ayaw naming makialam sa pulitika dyan pero challenge ko lang po sa inyo, pakiusap lang po, alang-alang sa mamamayan, ipasa natin ang budget on time. 'Wag nating ipasa sa kanila ang burden sa hindi pagkakaintindihan sa speakership. Pakiusap lang po," Go implored.

Go also emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte remained "true to his words" when he met both parties, specifically Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, as well as party leaders of the lower house of Congress early this week to help sort out the leadership issue.

"Ang Presidente naman, true to his words. Pagdating ng panahon, ginawa lang ng Presidente ang kanyang pangako. Kung ano man gawin nila, no comment na ako dyan," Go emphasized.

When asked about what will happen on October 14, Go reiterated: "No comment na po ako diyan, tapos na po ang Pangulo, true to his word ang Pangulo ay nangako na kakausapin niya, true to his word ay kakausapin niya lahat ng parties, including party leaders na involved dito... nagsalita na po ang Pangulo - true to his words. So, no comment na po ako diyan."

The proposed 2021 national budget is currently undergoing a series of deliberations in the both houses of Congress. The budget's theme is "Reset, Rebound, and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability."

It is 9.9 percent higher than the 2020 budget with more focus on government spending to improve the country's healthcare system while ensuring food and job security for Filipinos amid the challenges the country is currently facing.