PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has certified the 2023 national budget bill as urgent.

The President made the certification in a letter sent to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 26 (2) of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 4488...in order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of current fiscal year, strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the Covid-19 pandemic, and support initiatives towards national economic recovery,” Marcos said in the letter.

The proposed P5.268-trillion 2023 national budget is embodied in House Bill 4488.

Plenary deliberations on HB 4488 is ongoing at the House of Representatives.

With the certification, the House, which is scheduled to go on a break on Oct. 1, 2022 to Nov. 6, 2022, can approve the budget bill on third and final reading on the same day as the approval on second reading.

Under the 1987 Constitution, no bill may become a law “unless it has passed three readings on separate days...except when the President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment...”