The Senate will open the Second Regular Session of Congress on Monday, June 27 with the timely passage of the 2027 national budget in mind.

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian is the new Senate President Pro Tempore during the plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on June 3, 2026. (Mark Balmores)

Since the Upper Chamber will still continue holding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte while the Senate is in session, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian acknowledged that the immediate passage of the proposed national budget would be a challenge.

“It’s going to be a challenge, honestly. But I’ll work with the chairman, Sen. JV Ejercito, on how we can properly schedule it,” Gatchalian said in an interview with reporters.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito now heads the Senate Committee on Finance.

Gatchalian said the Senate will immediately schedule the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing and committee hearings as soon as the Executive branch submits the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

He said delays, such as the four-day budget reenactment in early 2026 must be avoided to protect the country’s economic growth.

That is why, the Senate is committed to prioritizing the 2027 national budget as well as measures that would help jumpstart the country’s economy.

“The priority would be how to jumpstart our economy. Because that is what I believe is our biggest issue this year,” the Senate chief said.

“Many analysts, rating agencies downgraded our economic growth. Our original projection of a 5 to 6 growth dipped to 3.5 to 4.5 percent. That will affect our poverty reduction goals, it will affect our employment,” Gatchalian pointed out.

“So that will be the trust of the Senate. And that’s my expectation of the SONA (State of the Nation Address). How do we jumpstart our economy so that we can get back on track?” he said.

He said senators are now looking into the priority bills identified in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that would give an impetus to these economic measures.

One of them is the proposed Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) law which seeks to institutionalize the program but was stuck in a “deadlock” after congressmen opposed the “anti-epal” provision in the bill.

He also mentioned the proposed National Center for Geriatric Health Act, which is still also in the bicameral conference committee level.

Other measures that are in the bicameral conference level are the GASTPE Act Amendments, Blue Economy Act and the Amendments to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.

“There are 50 LEDAC bills. We have categorized them into economic bills and what we term ‘social safety net’ bills. We will focus on discussing the economic bills to help revitalize our economy and accelerate its growth,” said the senator.

According to Gatchalian, the Senate is planning to hold committee hearings and budget hearings on Thursdays and Fridays, while the impeachment trial will be held on Mondays to Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thereafter, plenary sessions will be held in the afternoon.

The Senate chief also said the Senate is considering renting some rooms at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where they can conduct budget hearings alongside the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

On Monday, July 27, the Senate of the Philippines will open its second regular session of the 20th Congress in the morning. In the afternoon, both the Senate and the House of Representatives will hold a joint session for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

“I assure the public that the SONA will be safe, will be orderly on Monday,” Gatchalian said.