Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday, December 15 appealed to members of the Senate and House of Representatives to reconsider the decision on medical assisistance funds under the proposed 2026 national budget. Ejercito, who couldn’t attend the bicameral conference committee as a...
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Sunday, December 14 has urged Congress to restore the funds that were slashed from its budget for next year, making senators skeptical of the agency’s sudden request. Dizon was present during the second day of the bicameral...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned on Sunday, December 14, that restoring the items cut from the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the bicameral conference committee level will reopen the floodgates to insertion. Lacson made this...
As lawmakers start threshing out the differing provisions in their version of the 2026 national budget, senators zeroed in on the questionable budget increase for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) and farm-to-market roads (FMR). Senate President Pro...
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has asked the Senate to reconsider 2026 budget reductions, citing the need to apply updated construction cost data to ensure accurate project costing and proper execution. DPWH said the request focuses on securing authority to implement...
The Bicarmeral Conference Committee hearings on the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026 will begin Saturday, Dec. 13, with more eyes expected to watch every move of the lawmaker-participants than in any other bicam in history. For the first time...
With the annual Congress holiday break just around the corner, it seems that several individuals who were cited in contempt during previous hearings could remain in detention at the Senate during Christmas and the New Year--perhaps even longer. This was according to Senate President Vicente "Tito"...
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada withdrew as a member of the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced this after the Senate approved a resolution adjusting Congress’ legislative calendar to accommodate the...
The Senate on Tuesday, December 9 said it will be extending its sessions until December 23 for the passage of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. It was Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri who announced the adjustment in the Upper Chamber’s legislative calendar, saying...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the Senate is keen on passing the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) by January next year. Sotto, in an interview on Tuesday, December 9, said they hope to finish deliberations on the bill before the Christmas break. The Senate...
With 17 affirmative votes, no negative votes and zero abstention, the Senate on Tuesday, December 9 approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 4058, which contains the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance...
The Senate approved on Thursday, December 4 the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on second reading. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri moved to close the period of amendments for House Bill No. 4058 under Committee Report No. 18. Senate President Pro Tempore...
