The Senate on Monday, Dec. 22, moved to amend its legislative calendar to give more time for the preparation, printing, and ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the proposed P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for fiscal year 2026.

During the plenary session, the senators stressed the need to avoid “blind ratification” and ensure that the enrolled bill faithfully reflects what was approved by the bicam.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri manifested that “additional time is required to complete the preparation and ratification of the conference committee report on the general appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026".

He cited the need to ensure the continuity of government operations and the faithful implementation of the national budget for the ensuing fiscal year.

Zubiri said the House of Representatives had likewise made a similar motion to amend its calendar, prompting him to move, “with the consent of the body", to amend anew the Senate’s legislative calendar, specifically moving the resumption of session from Dec. 22, 2025 to Dec. 29, 2025, and the adjournment of session from Dec. 23, 2025 to Dec. 30, 2025.

He said all other dates in the previously adopted calendar would remain unchanged.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the extension would allow time for the printing and circulation of the draft enrolled bill, in line with the Senate’s direction.

He said the plan is to print the draft enrolled bill, share it with the bicam conferees and other senators, and proceed with the signing of the draft enrolled bill together with the bicam report on Dec. 28 at 10 a.m.

“So by that time we will have all the documents in place, and the documents will be shared with the senators and the bicam conferees, and after that, on the 29th, we will have our ratification,” Gatchalian said.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III underscored the chamber’s position, and said for the record that “This Congress, under our leadership, will never allow a blind ratification ever.”

Zubiri explained that the extension into the holiday season was precisely to prevent senators from being asked to sign documents they had not fully reviewed.

He echoed Gatchalian’s remarks, and said the Senate would not agree to suddenly sign the bicam conference committee report without first seeing the enrolled copy.

“Whether we like it or not, maybe in the past maraming singit, yung na-approve na sa bicam report napapalitan pa sa enrollment of bill na di dapat tama yun (Whether we like it or not, maybe in the past there were many insertions; what was already approved in the bicam report would still be changed during the enrollment of the bill, which should not be the case),” Zubiri said.

He added that the extension would allow senators to study the documents and ensure that the bicameral conference committee report is “exactly as approved".

Sotto emphasized that what was required was “a faithful reproduction of what the bicam approved.”

Zubiri added: “Walang singit walang insertion, Mr. President (No insertions, no additions, Mr. President).”