Start of bicam budget hearings moved to Dec 13; Suansing explains why
At A Glance
- House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing has confirmed that the start of the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the 2026 national budget has been postponed.
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (PPAB)
House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing has confirmed that the start of the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the 2026 national budget has been postponed.
Instead of Friday, Dec. 12, the bicam hearings on the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will now begin on Saturday, Dec. 13, Suansing said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.
It's during the bicam hearings that contingents from the House of Representatives and Senate convene to harmonize the differing provisions of their respective versions of any given measure.
"Both Houses have mutually decided to start the bicam on Saturday (Dec. 13) to allow time for the technical staff to prepare," Suansing said.
"Intensive preparations are required given that this is the first time that the bicam will be livestreamed and we would need a matrix of disagreeing provisions for the deliberations," she noted.
Suansing is part of the 12-person House contingent to this year's budget bicam hearings.