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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Extended! House, Senate to hold sessions up to Dec 22

Extended! House, Senate to hold sessions up to Dec 22

Published Dec 9, 2025 09:22 pm  |  Updated Dec 10, 2025 12:45 am

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday night, Dec.9 a measure from the Senate that sought to add one more session date to Congress before the year end recess.
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday night, Dec. 9 a measure from the Senate that sought to add one more session date to Congress before the year end recess.
Taken up during Tuesday's plenary session at the House was Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) No.7. Penned by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, the measure tweaks the legislative calendar for the first regular session of the 20th Congress.
House Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega, the presiding officer at that time, declared SCR No.7 as adopted by the lower chamber via simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes).
With this, the House concurred with the Senate to adjourn session on Tuesday, Dec. 23, instead of Thursday, Dec. 20. This essentially added Monday, Dec. 22 as a session date to the legislative calendar.
The additional date will give the lawmakers more time to fix anything that could hinder the ratification of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026 by the two chambers.
Before the adoption of SCR No.7, the last session date for both chambers before the holiday recess was Dec. 17.
House members and senators only hold plenary sessions from Monday to Wednesday. The House and Senate--which comprise Philippine Congress--must adjourn on the same date.
Meanwwhile, the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the 2026 GAB or proposed national budget will begin Friday, Dec. 12. Jointly held by select contingents of the House and Senate, the bicam is where the two chambers harmonize their respective versions of the budget bill.
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