Bicam ‘speeds up’ work to transmit 2026 budget to Malacañang

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

(House of Representatives of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Lawmakers are targeting the completion of bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget by Wednesday, as both chambers move to finalize computations and transmit the measure to Malacañang ahead of the New Year.

After concluding the third day of the conference on Tuesday, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said the next phase of the bicam process would focus on consolidating the budget “physically and computation-wise.”

“Target namin tomorrow matatapos na hopefully, kasi ang next ng bicam is putting the budget together physically and also computation wise (We are targeting to finish tomorrow, hopefully, because the next step of the bicam is putting the budget together physically and computation-wise),” he said in an interview.

He said scheduling concerns were discussed with House Appropriations Committee chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, particularly as lawmakers begin their holiday breaks and quorum becomes crucial for ratification.

“Ang problema ang mga members natin ay nagbabakasyon na, kasi kailangan i-ratify ’to eh (The problem is our members are already going on vacation, because this still needs to be ratified),” Gatchalian said, adding that the House faces a bigger challenge due to its 318 members compared with 24 senators.

Suansing said the bicam approved the budgets of at least 20 agencies during the third day of deliberations, with about 11 agencies remaining.

She expressed optimism that the panel can wrap up its work on time.

“Very positive that we will be able to finish the bicam tomorrow,” she said.

Suansing said both chambers are working closely to avoid a reenacted budget and ensure the President has enough time to review the spending measure.

“Ginagawa naming lahat, sinisigurado naming that the President will be able to sign the budget before this New Year (We are doing everything to ensure that the President will be able to sign the budget before the New Year),” she said.