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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Suansing 'very positive' bicam can finish budget consolidation Wednesday

Suansing 'very positive' bicam can finish budget consolidation Wednesday

Published Dec 17, 2025 01:53 pm

At A Glance

  • House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing says she's "very positive" that the Bicameral Conference Committee can wrap up discussions on the proposed 2026 national budget on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Facebook)
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Facebook)


House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing says she's "very positive" that the Bicameral Conference Committee can wrap up discussions on the proposed 2026 national budget on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
This, after the House of Representatives and Senate contingents to the bicam made headway in their consolidation of their respective versions of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026 during Tuesday's hearing.
"I think we went through at least 20 agencies today. So, maganda naman po. Nakita nIyo, very active po lahat na mga members ng bicam (So it's a good development. As you can see, all the members of the bicam are active). There are over 20 [agencies], so hindi ko na po iisa-isahin (I won't name them anymore)," Suansing said in a chance interview Tuesday night at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
"But I think as for our latest count ni Sen Win (Senator Sherwin Gatchalian), we still have 11 to go. Pero we're very, very positive that we'll be able to finish the bicam tomorrow (Wednesday)," added the head of the House contingent to the bicam.
Gatchalian, her Senate counterpart, confirmed that the target was to finish the work of the bicam by Wednesday.
The bicam began meeting on the 2026 GAB last Saturday, Dec. 14. The lawmakers are eyeing to ratify the budget bill on Monday, Dec. 22--the last session day of the year.
After that, the finalized GAB will be transmitted to Malacañang for President Marcos' signature.
"Sinisigurado nga namin tulad po ng nabanggit ni Sen Win, that the President will be able to sign the budget before this New Year kasi lagi nga po namin sinasabi ni Sen Win, magtatrabaho po kami para po hindi tayo mag-allow ng re-enacted budget," Suansing said.
(As Sen Win mentioned, we are making sure that the President will be able to sign the budget before this New Year, because as Sen Win and I always say, we will work so that we do not allow a re-enacted budget.)
"So, yung po talaga, we will do our best. Of course, yung mga teams po, both from the House and the Senate, magtatrabaho din po over time. Even during the holidays, kahit po Pasko, of course, magpa-Pasko naman sila, magpa-Pasko po kami," she said.
(So that's really it, we will do our best. Of course, the teams from both the House and the Senate will also work overtime. Even during the holidays, even at Christmas, of course they will celebrate Christmas, we will celebrate Christmas too.)
The bicam hearing Wednesday will be held 4 p.m. at PICC. The marathon discussions are being livestreamed for the first time this year.
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