The Senate on Monday approved the measure that sought to extend the validity of the 2021 national budget until next year, allowing the government to fund more programs and services for pandemic recovery.
With 22 affirmative votes, the chamber unanimously approved House Bill 10373, which extends the availability of the 2021 appropriations until Dec. 31, 2022.
Sen. Sonny Angara, who sponsored the measure, said the approval of the bill was crucial in the government's recovery efforts, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to persist throughout next year.
“The approval of the measure will allow the government to provide more social services and implement more projects for the benefit of more of our countrymen, and to a certain extent, provide some stimulus for jumpstarting our economic recovery,” he said.
With the extension of the 2021 budget's availability, the government will be able to provide assistance to 2.5 million more indigent patients and hire 8,000 more COVID-19 contact tracers.
It will also help in boosting the country's economic recovery by ramping up its spending, particularly in infrastructure.
The Senate earlier approved the proposed P5.02-trillion national budget next year, which is also envisioned to fund the pandemic recovery efforts of the government.
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