MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the Senate will only engage in a dialogue with the House of Representatives if the lower chamber recalls its modified budget bill. ADVERTISEMENTThe passage of the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 General Appropriations Bill still faced delays as Senate has yet to approve the budget bill that the House transmitted. The Senate President earlier said the Senate was open to convene a special session to break the budget impasse. Sotto also maintained that the House should recall the modified budget bill, restore it to its original version, and allow President Rodrigo Duterte to use his veto power over the lump-sum appropriations. READ: Sotto: Modified budget bill contains P96B House realignmentsREAD: Sotto: Senate open to special session to break budget impasseHouse appropriations panel chair Rolando Andaya Jr. said they “welcome any effort to break the 2019 budget impasse,” but they will maintain their position that the budget was itemized after it was ratified in the plenary.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 14, 2019 14:15 UTC