(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday, March 13, called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to break the budget impasse and submit an appropriations law it said would “aid this government better, the lives (of Filipinos) and help (the) country move forward.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the leaders of both houses of Congress met with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the budget issues.
Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said no consensus had been reached even after the meeting, which took place after Senator Panfilo Lacson accused the House of “manipulating” the proposed national budget already ratified by the houses of Congress.
House appropriations chair Rolando Andaya Jr. said, however, that they were merely “itemizing” the budget so it could be scrutinized easily.
“Only Congress can resolve and break this impasse,” Panelo said in the statement.