Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday, December 31 said she refused to sign the bicameral conference committee approved version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), saying it did not eliminate the so-called pork barrel system despite efforts to promote transparency and accountability. ...
The Senate on Monday, Dec. 29, ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee (bicam) report on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that proposes a ₱ P6.793 -trillion national budget for next year. The ratified version of the 2026 GAB will then be sent to Malacañang for President...
Senators on Sunday, December 21, assured that the the bicameral conference committee-approved P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 now contains strong, enforceable safeguards for transparency, traceability and citizen oversight. “Gone are the secretive and ‘alok-able’ talks that result...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he is confident President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not veto the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 or any of its provisions. “I am confident that nothing will be vetoed in this budget because first of all, it is coordinated,”...
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday, Dec. 19, thanked the Bicameral Conference Committee for supporting the sector’s budget, saying sustained investment in tourism drives economic growth and job creation. DOT highlighted that even with a reduced P100 million promotions budget in 2024, the...
Senator Paolo "Bam" Aquino has commended the Bicameral Conference Committee for keeping the education budget intact and for upholding transparency in the 2026 national budget approval process. The bicam approved a P1.38-trillion education budget—the highest in the country’s history. It is...
The Senate leadership and majority have welcomed the Bicameral Conference Committee’s approval of the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, describing it as the most transparent budget process in recent memory. “We in the Senate leadership and majority welcome the bicam approval...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday, Dec. 18, extolled the efforts the Senate panel that participated in the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations on the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. In a statement, Lacson praised its the Senate panel...
A last-minute switch in the list of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects worth P8.9 million under the Department of Agriculture (DA) budget was approved by the bicameral conference committee (bicam) on Wednesday, Dec. 17. This happened even after the bicam already approved the agency 's budget...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday, December 17 dismissed claims made by Rep. Antonio Tinio alleging the inclusion of a P17.9-billion pork barrel fund for the Senate in the 2026 national budget saying it is just mere “lazy work” or a malicious attempt to...
The bicameral conference committee late Tuesday night, Dec. 17, approved the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed P889-million budget for 2026. "The Senate proposes the National Expenditure Program (NEP) level of P889 million," Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin...
The bicameral conference committee has approved the proposal to earmark P500-million in financial assistance for Related Learning Experience (RLE) in the 2026 national budget. As it is, students in allied health sciences programs will receive the much-needed financial assistance once the final...
