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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate majority welcomes bicam approval of ₱6.793-T 2026 budget

Senate majority welcomes bicam approval of ₱6.793-T 2026 budget

Published Dec 18, 2025 06:08 pm

At A Glance

  • The Senate leadership and majority bloc welcomed the Bicameral Conference Committee's approval of the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. The deliberations were described as the most transparent budget process in recent memory.
The Senate leadership and majority have welcomed the Bicameral Conference Committee’s approval of the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, describing it as the most transparent budget process in recent memory.
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate convene for the second day of the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting for the 2026 National Budget, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, on December 14, 2025. This is the first time the bicam will be open to the public via livestream and media coverage, which is part of the reforms after billions worth of controversial flood control projects w naere inserted in last year’s budget deliberations. Photos by Aram Lascano & Mike Alquinto, SPPA POOL
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate convene for the second day of the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting for the 2026 National Budget, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, on December 14, 2025. This is the first time the bicam will be open to the public via livestream and media coverage, which is part of the reforms after billions worth of controversial flood control projects w naere inserted in last year’s budget deliberations. Photos by Aram Lascano & Mike Alquinto, SPPA POOL
“We in the Senate leadership and majority welcome the bicam approval of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 and we call it the most transparent in recent memory because the public saw every step in full view, from committee briefings to plenary debates to the bicam itself, all on livestream and all archived for anyone who wants to follow the money,” the majority bloc said in a statement.
The bicam adjourned at 2:22 a.m. after four days of marathon talks to reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget.
According to the Senate majority, the process reflects what it described as a “new normal” in the Senate, where the public can watch, read and verify the budget process in real time, with discussions and supporting materials posted to allow taxpayers to trace how funds move from proposal to final item.
“Transparency here is policy, not just a catchphrase,” the statement said.
The majority bloc said there were no midnight deals, last-minute insertions or amendments that escaped public scrutiny, stressing that all adjustments were discussed on record with paper trails accessible to auditors, civil society and the media.
Education received the largest share of the budget in this cycle. Total funding for this reached P1.38 trillion, equivalent to 20 percent of the national budget or 4.5 percent of gross domestic product.
The Senate majority said this supports learning recovery, classroom construction and teacher support.
The majority also said funding was protected for health, food security and jobs through clearly documented line items, realistic timelines and measurable outcomes to ensure programs are audit-ready from the start.
On the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget, the Senate said the bicam chose “diligence over speed,” going through projects line by line, requiring programs of work and complete supporting documents, and rejecting any across-the-board restoration without itemized recomputation.
Using updated price data from the DPWH for construction materials and logistics, the bicam reduced project costs, freeing P20.773 billion for reallocation.
Of this amount, P16.5 billion was allocated to PhilHealth, raising its 2026 budget to P129.78 billion and restoring its full sin tax share.
Meanwhile, P4.25 billion was allocated to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund.
To further enhance accountability, the Senate panel recommended the creation of an online transparency dashboard for farm-to-market road and National Irrigation Administration projects, stronger safeguards, citizen participatory audits, and a shift from lump-sum funding to itemized project breakdowns.
The Senate leadership also commended the Senate and House contingents in the bicam for maintaining openness and fiscal discipline, particularly thanking Senate Finance Committee Chair Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian for his leadership.
“No budget is perfect, but a budget made in daylight is stronger,” the statement said. It added that the Senate will continue to carry out livestreams, post schedules and public bicam proceedings to strengthen confidence in both the numbers and the process.
The Senate majority said it would carry the momentum into budget implementation, keep oversight mechanisms open, and deliver a budget that works for Filipino families on time and in full.

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bicameral conference committee 2026 budget House of Representatives Senate of the Philippines
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