Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) — The Senate will resume its session a week earlier than scheduled in November, Senate President Tito Sotto announced on Thursday,
“Yes, Nov. 9,” Sotto said. “I already instructed the Senate Secretary to inform the House of Representatives, and they are not compelled nor enjoined to do the same. They can resume on the 16th as manifested in the original calendar.”
Congress will suspend its session tomorrow and is scheduled to resume on Nov. 16.
Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri said senators prefer to hold session earlier so they could immediately discuss the 2021 budget and the CREATE bill.
Zubiri said as long as the House of Representatives gets to pass the budget on third reading this week and submit it to the Senate within the month of October, Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Committee on Finance, could immediately sponsor the measure in plenary on Nov. 9.
He said this would give senators about a week to study the budget passed by the lower chamber and compare it with their version.
Afterward, senators can start the period of interpellation of the budget by Nov. 16.
“I’m confident kung maipasa po nila yan on third reading bukas, nai-print nila document within the next couple of weeks at mabigay within the month of October, matatapos po namin ang budget hopefully by the first week of December,” Zubiri said.
[Translation: I’m confident if they can pass it on third reading tomorrow, print and document within the next couple of weeks and give it within the month of October, we can finish the budget hopefully by the first week of December.]
While discussing the budget, Zubiri said senators could also discuss the amendments on the CREATE bill.
The measure seeks to lower the corporate income tax, but offset the losses by removing some incentives given to some businesses such as those in economic zones.
Zubiri said senators would most likely fail to pass the CREATE bill before they suspend their session for the Halloween break.
He explained that some senators were still proposing line by line amendments.
“It’s going to be a very difficult night tonight in terms of amendments,” Zubiri pointed out. “I hope walang magkakasamaan ng loob but madugo pa itong CREATE na ito at I think aabutin pa ito ng November if we can’t finish it tonight.”
[Translation: It’s going to be a very difficult night tonight in terms of amendments. I hope there will be no hard feelings, but the CREATE bill is tedious and I think this will go on until November if we can’t finish it tonight.]
Zubiri said he believes there is no need for the President to call for a special session in order for the Senate to be able to resume session earlier.
He explained that because they will only suspend the session tonight until November and not adjourn, all senators need to do is inform the House of Representatives of their plan.
“We have to inform the House that we will start early or late,” Zubiri said. “One week early or late. Ang plano namin, we will inform the House that we will start our session early. Pag tinanggap nila at wala sila complaint, today, we will suspend session till Nov. 9.”
[Translation: We have to inform the House that we will start early or late. One week early or late. Our plan is to inform the House that we will start our session early. If they accept it and have no complaint, today, we will suspend the session till Nov. 9.]
