The P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026 has entered the grueling plenary debates--its final stage of deliberations in the House of Representatives.

This, after Committee on Appropriations chairperson, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing finally sponsored in plenary on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 23 the 2026 GAB, embodied in House Bill (HB) No.4058.

"Mr. Speaker, I humbly sponsor the proposed General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 026 and respectfully seek the support of my colleagues for its timely and responsible passage. Together, let us ensure that this budget reflects the aspirations of our people and strengthens trust in our institutions," Suansing asked her solon-colleagues.

That the House was attempting to pass the biggest budget ever proposed in the backdrop of the massive flood control projects corruption scandal wasn't lost on the Harvard graduate.

"The mismanagement of public funds through failed, collapsed flood control projects amid the increasing frequency and intensity of scorching heatwaves and typhoons is of utmost disrespect to our Filipino people. It exposes a deeper sickness: a budget that too often bends to politics and patronage instead of vulnerability and risk. This must end," she said.

"Our allocations must not only answer today’s needs, but also shield our communities from the disasters of tomorrow," reckoned the appropriations panel chief.

"Allow me to stress a truth we cannot ignore: the trust of our people in our Congressional institutions has eroded. When citizens witness budgets that do not match their realities—when funds fail to reach those who need them most—confidence in government collapses. It is the greatest imperative of our time to restore this trust through foremost accountability. The all-encompassing reformation and transparency of our budget process is the first step towards this end," underscored Suansing.

Prior to the GAB's plenary sponsorship, the appropriations panel convened Tuesday morning and approved the proposed realignments to the budget measure. These were proposed during the marathon hearing of the Budget Amendments Review Sub-committee (BARSc) the previous day.

The realignments were sourced exclusively from the P255.528 billion that was originally set aside for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Essentially, the BARSc--which Suansing also oversaw--did the job of the now-abolished "small committee", which used to handle institutional amendments to the GAB. But the sub-panel did so in a livestreamed hearing and not behind closed doors.

"Every peso of the ₱255 billion was reviewed line by line and reallocated in a way that is open, transparent, and participatory," Suansing said.

She said the top three sectors that received realignments were health (P89.281 billion), agriculture (P44.367 billion), and education (P37.303 billion). She said the BARSc followed President Marcos' guidelines when it came to these reallocations.

Also approved by the Committee on Appropriations was the schedule of the plenary debates, which will run until Oct. 10.

Like with the committee deliberation stage, the individual budgets of the different departments and agencies will again be defended during the plenary debates. This time, however, it is the vice chairmen of the appropriations panel that will answer questions from solons, not the agency heads.

As of this posting, Suansing was defending the general principles and provisions of the HB No.4058.