The House of Representatives is still capable of passing the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) on time, even with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-led review of what solons have flagged as questionable insertions.

Thus, said House Spokesperson Princess Abante as the Committee on Appropriations enters on Friday, Sept. 5 the most critical stage yet of the deliberations on the P6.793-trillion outlay next year.

"It appears that the committee is still confident that they can still meet the timeline na tinitignan ng House para ma-approve ang GAB (that the House is looking at for the approval of the GAB),” Abante said in a statement.

GAB stands for the General Appropriations Bill, or the annual budget measure passed by Congress. It is based off the DBM's annual NEP, and party leaders have stated that the latest version is riddled with irregularities such as missing appropriations and duplicate appropriations.

That's why DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman will be at the House of Representatives Friday, to appease the senior House members who at one point Wednesday called for a stoppage of the budget hearings pending an overhaul of the entire NEP.

“Kaya nga tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang budget deliberations para ‘dun sa mga items na wala namang problema ay ma-tackle na siya. Hindi natin alam kung gano’ng kabilis ‘yung magiging review ng DBM doon sa mga budget na may nakitang may mga observations sa mga members,” Abante, a lawyer, said.

(That’s why the budget deliberations are continuing for the items that don’t have any issues, so they can already be tackled. We don’t know how fast the DBM’s review will be for the budgets where members have raised observations.)

The Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing-led appropriations panel is on its third week of deliberations on the P6.793-trillion NEP--the largest in the country’s history.

The 300-strong House is expected to go on legislative recess on Oct. 10; Normally, solons will endeavor to approve the GAB on third and final reading in plenary before recess.

But Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin said Wednesday that the House was willing to forego this break in order have President Marcos sign the GAB before year's end.

“But tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho ng Committee on Appropriations to ensure na matatapos at matatapos natin ito doon sa time na in-identify nila. And again, kung magkaroon man ng adjustments, nagsabi din ang ibang party leaders that they’re willing to work overtime for this,” Abante said.

(But the work of the Committee on Appropriations continues to ensure that this will be completed within the timeframe they’ve identified. And again, if adjustments are needed, some party leaders have said they’re willing to work overtime for this.)