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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate extends sessions until Dec. 23 for passage of 2026 national budget

Senate extends sessions until Dec. 23 for passage of 2026 national budget

Published Dec 9, 2025 08:44 pm

At A Glance

  • The Senate on Tuesday, December 9 said it will be extending its sessions until December 23 for the passage of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
The Senate on Tuesday, December 9 said it will be extending its sessions until December 23 for the passage of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
It was Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri who announced the adjustment in the Upper Chamber’s legislative calendar, saying they would go on “extended sessions during the Christmas holidays.”
Zubiri said this is to hopefully ensure the ratification of the 2026 budget bill on the week of December 22.
The Majority leader also said they had already asked some of their colleagues to forego some of their plans during the holidays.
“(Let’s do this) for the nation so we can pass the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget,” Zubiri stressed.
With this, the Senate approved Concurrent Resolution No. 7. The said resolution introduced a “very simple amendment” to the Senate’s legislative calendar.
Under Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, the Senate moved the adjournment of session from Dec. 19 to Dec. 23. The Senate will go on recess from Dec. 24 until January 25.
The Senate will then resume session on January 26, 2026.
Senate Committee on Finance chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier they hope to send the national budget bill to the President by Dec. 29, 2025.
Earlier, the Senate approved the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026 on third and final reading. Gatchalian said the Senate is adamant in making the bicameral conference committee hearings on the budget bill open to public viewing.
Gatchalian said this is to help restore public trust in the government in light of the multi-billion corruption scandal involving flood control projects that hit the country.
Prior to the approval of the budget bill on final reading, Sen. Erwin Tulfo disclosed that some members of the House thumbed down the proposed livestreaming of the bicameral conference meeting on the proposed 2026 budget.
Tulfo also said that some House lawmakers have been complaining about the budget cuts in their respective district.
“But we’re not hiding anything. Why are they opposed to it? That’s everyone’s budget. That’s our money. It’s not the senators’ money, nor the congressmen,” Tulfo pointed out.
“So if you ask me, why not? Why do we have to hide? We need to show it live, up to the last minute, the last centavo, so people can see it,” he further said.

Related Tags

2026 national budget Tito Sotto III Senate Sherwin Gatchalian bicameral conference committee Erwin Tulfo House of Representatives
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