Senate President Vicente Sotto III over the weekend confirmed that the Senate will ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget earlier or on December 17, which is also scheduled as the chamber’s last day of session.
Sotto assured lawmakers and the public that the Senate will not allow last-minute insertions in the proposed budget and will adjourn for the Christmas recess only after the bicam report is ratified.
“No one can add or insert anything anymore. I will not allow it,” he asserted.
According to the Senate chief, no additional funds will be allocated for discretionary use in the proposed budget, except for items under unprogrammed appropriations, which depend on revenue availability.
Sotto also said Senate Finance Committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian arranged for the bicameral conference to open on December 10 to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the General Appropriations Bill.
The bicam meetings were initially scheduled from December 13 to 16 but may be moved earlier to expedite the final approval, with ratification possible by December 14 and no later than December 17.
The Senate’s adjournment, slated for December 17, remains flexible but will depend on the pace of bicameral deliberations.
After both chambers ratify the bicameral report, the House will prepare the enrolled bill for the signatures of the Speaker and Senate President before it is transmitted to Malacañang. “Our priority is to finish the budget. We will adjourn only after we are certain it is ready for the President’s review,” said Sotto.
Since the President is not expected to sign the budget immediately after receipt, the final approval is tentatively scheduled for December 29.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian on Sunday conducted an inspection in Intramuros to ensure logistical readiness for the bicameral proceedings.
He said the new Centro de Turismo Intramuros, a government-run museum that opened in June last year, is being considered as the venue because it provides a lower cost—or potentially free—facility and showcases Filipino heritage to lawmakers attending the sessions.
The Senate on Thursday approved on second reading the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026 and scheduled its third reading for Tuesday, December 9.
The House earlier passed its version of the measure on October 13 under House Bill 4058, setting the stage for bicameral talks that will be livestreamed to promote transparency.
While assuring that lawmakers would block late insertions, Gatchalian acknowledged that bicam sessions can become difficult to manage due to competing priorities.
To prevent delays, he said discussions will be limited to a comparison of the Senate committee report, the Senate third-reading version, and the House’s approved General Appropriations Bill to focus only on material differences and ensure the timely passage of the national budget.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Senate to ratify 2026 budget before December 17”
