The Bicameral Conference Committee of the 20th Congress has approved the final version of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
Several lawmakers from both the Senate and the House of Representatives signed the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center, where marathon deliberations were held.
“What we want to call this budget is a people-centered budget. In terms of the process, we made sure it was transparent and accountable to the Filipino people, and in terms of the content, we focused on human capital development,” House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mikaela Angela Suansing said.
She added that lawmakers worked extensively to ensure all disagreeing provisions were thoroughly discussed.
“We worked hard to make sure that the disagreeing provisions were discussed, leaving no stone unturned. We also wanted the public to see exactly how every peso of taxpayers’ money is allocated,” Suansing said.
Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian thanked lawmakers from both chambers for their cooperation in finalizing the budget.
“Everyone worked together and burned the midnight oil to finish our national budget,” he said.
He noted that substantial allocations were made for education, health, and agriculture, which he said are crucial to economic development.
“We allocated significant funds to education, health, and agriculture because we believe these sectors are vital to the development of our economy,” Gatchalian added.
The bicameral deliberations began on December 13 and concluded on December 18.
The process marked the first time that bicameral deliberations were livestreamed online, following congressional inquiries that revealed lawmakers’ insertions at the bicam level had funded questionable items, including alleged anomalous flood control projects.
The signed bicameral report will be ratified by both chambers of Congress on Monday, December 29.
“This reconciled version will be uploaded. Once it is ratified tomorrow, it will be immediately posted on the transparency portals,” Gatchalian said.
After ratification, the GAB will be transmitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signature, Gatchalian said.
Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the General Appropriations Act in the first week of January, according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “House, Senate sign Bicam Report on 2026 national budget.”
