Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday assured the public that the chamber would approve the 2022 national budget on time, despite being busy with election preparations.
Sotto, who is running for vice president with Lacson for president, said the Senate would be able to pass the budget before their December adjournment if the House of Representatives transmits the budget bill by Oct. 1.
Lacson, who has earned the reputation of being the budget watchdog, added that although the filing of certificates of candidacies will be from Oct. 1 to 8, he and Sotto, along with the other reelectionist senators, would not be distracted in their duties to tackle and approve the national budget.
"Kapag nasa loob kami ng Senado, sisiguraduhin namin na senador kami, hindi kami kandidato. Kapag nasa labas kami at wala kaming trabaho sa Senado, doon lang kami magpupusturang kandidato," he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.
"Ako, along with the Senate president, we're hopeful na hindi tayo magkakaroon ng reenacted budget at mapapasa natin ito before the December break," he added.
The Department of Budget and Management is proposing a budget of at least P5-trillion next year, which is P500 billion higher than this year's P4.5 trillion.
The Lacson-Sotto ticket is the first tandem to be confirmed for the 2022 elections, which they announced following a series of consultations with various sectors in Luzon.
Asked how he would perform his duties as Senate president while preparing for his campaign, Sotto said he would never be absent nor late for sessions.
"Ang trabaho ay trabaho. Ang campaign period is February pa, at pagpasok ng campaign period break na kami," he said. "Hindi ko pababayaan ang trabaho ko sa Senado."
The Lacson-Sotto tandem will make their official launch for their 2022 election bids on Aug. 4.
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