House appropriations panel chair Rep. Eric Yap (ACT-CIS party-list) earlier said that the lower chamber can submit a soft copy of the budget to the Senate by October 28. Senators have been clamoring for the House to transmit the budget early to give them time to debate on the measure and still pass the spending plan on time. Following the election of Velasco, the House recalled the passage of the budget on second reading and resumed plenary debates on the spending bill. The small committee formed to tackle amendments to the budget for next year earlier approved to increase the budget allocated for COVID-19 vaccines from P2.5 billion to P8 billion. The realignments include an additional P4 billion to help displaced workers, P2 billion to improve health facilities, P2 billion to buy police mobility assets, P2 billion for buy C-130 planes for the military, and another P2 billion to aid families affected by the pandemic.

Source: Philippine Star October 27, 2020 03:56 UTC