After several delays and long hours of negotiations, lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate have finally concluded the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. The final meeting wrapped up at 2:22 a.m. on Thursday, ending a marathon session that lasted more than nine hours.
Transparent and People-Centered Budget
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the conclusion of the talks, highlighting that the reconciled budget is designed to respond to the needs of ordinary Filipinos. He emphasized that the spending plan is corruption-free, contains no overpriced items, and adheres to strict transparency standards.
“Finally, we have a budget that we can be proud of and that is truly responsive to the Filipino people,” Gatchalian said. On the final day, lawmakers focused on key components such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, unprogrammed appropriations, and special-purpose funds.
Next Step: Ratification
With disagreements resolved, the consolidated budget will now return to both chambers of Congress for ratification. Once approved, it will be sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing.
Ratification Could Face Holiday Challenge
Gatchalian noted that the upcoming holiday season could pose a hurdle, as some lawmakers are expected to be away on family vacations. Ensuring a quorum during the ratification sessions will be essential to keeping the process on track. Despite this, he remains optimistic that the 2026 national budget could be transmitted to the President for signing by December 29, 2025.
The completion of bicam deliberations marks a critical step toward finalizing the nation’s largest spending plan to date, aiming to fund public services and development projects across the country.
