It is now up to the Executive department to implement the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026 in a manner consistent with the efforts to foster transparency and public accountability, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said on Tuesday, December 30.

Scenes from the final session of the year as the Senate ratifies the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for fiscal year 2026, marking a key step in finalizing the national budget and setting government spending priorities for the coming year. The approval capped months of deliberations on funding allocations for public services, infrastructure, and social programs. (Mark Balmores)

Zubiri made the statement after Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the final version of the 2026 GAB on Monday, December 29, a few days after lawmakers livestreamed the budget proceedings to allow the public first hand information on the government’s fiscal programs for next year.

“The ball now shifts to the Executive to implement it with the same daylight the Senate showed while we keep watch on delivery,” Zubiri said.

“And as we move forward, sana pagdating sa 21st, 22nd and 23rd Congresses, ganito pa rin kasing-transparent ang gagawin nila (I hope that the 21st, 22nd and 23rd Congresses will do the same transparent manner). This should be the new normal for the budget process,” the senator said.

“From first briefing to last gavel, proceedings were open. Livestreams stayed up, side-by-side matrices were posted and every movement in the numbers carried authorship and explanation so people could watch, read and verify without insider access,” he said.

“We kept a hard verification step before ratification. Hindi kami pipirma kung hindi tugma ang conference report at ang enrolled copy (We won’t be signing it if the conference report is different from the enrolled copy),” Zubiri said.

Zubiri also assured that the final version of the 2026 national budget is devoid of any midnight insertions, for-later-identification, and no projects or items that do not display any program of work, location with exact coordinates and timeline.

“And I would like to stress that amendments can be good for the people as long as the price is right, the documents are complete and there are barangay and municipal resolutions, and for large projects, RDC action with the agency request on file,” he said.

“Now the Executive must carry this across the finish line with the same commitment to transparency that we in the Senate have shown,” the lawmaker added.

The Senate, he said, will continue the oversight of the national budget spending.

“This transparency standard now applies to appropriations, special purpose funds and all spending measures that we will pass in the future. We will defend it, improve it and make sure public funds really work for Filipino families,” he stressed.