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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House tweaks legislative calendar anew to make way for 2026 budget ratification

House tweaks legislative calendar anew to make way for 2026 budget ratification

Published Dec 22, 2025 01:37 pm

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives has once again amended its legislative calendar in the first regular session of the 20th Congress to accommodate the new timelne of the signing of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026.
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


The House of Representatives has once again amended its legislative calendar in the first regular session of the 20th Congress to accommodate the new timelne of the signing of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026.
During the morning plenary session Monday, Dec. 22, Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos moved for a one-week extension before the 300-plus strong chamber officially goes on its annual holiday recess.
"Mr. Speaker, I manifest before this body that additional time is required to complete the preparation and ratification of the conference committee report on the [GAB] for Fiscal Year 2026," Marcos said.
"Accordingly, and having been informed that the Senate will make a similar motion to amend the legislative calendar, I move to amend anew the legislative calendar particularly, on the resumption of session from Dec. 22, 2025 to Dec. 29, 2025; and on the adjournment of session, from Dec. 23, 2025 to Dec. 30, 2025," said the presidential son.
The presiding officer at that time, Deputy Speaker Misamis Oriental 2nd district Rep. Yevgeny Vicente Emano, carried the motion after hearing no objections.
The ratification of the 2026 GAB--to be done separately by the House of Representatives and Senate--is slated on Dec. 29. The budget bill would then be transmitted to Malacañang on the same day for President Marcos' signature.
"The ratification of the said committee report is imperative to ensure the continuity of government operations and the faithful implementation of the national budget for the ensuing fiscal year," Rep. Marcos said.
The goal of the bicameral Congress is to have the GAB enacted before the end of the current fiscal year.
Congress was originally scheduled to hold its last session of the year on Dec. 17. The legislative calendar was then amended to have Dec. 22 as its last session date for 2025, to accommodate the ratification.
But since the Bicameral Conference Committee on the 2026 GAB only finished its consolidation last Dec. 18, and given the time it takes to harmonize the bill's language and pritnt the voluminous document, the target date for ratification was moved on the 29th.
The House won't hold plenary session between the 22nd and 29th
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