Lacson assures Win Gatchalian of majority's support on budget amendment proposals

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Wednesday that the majority bloc will fully support Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian on his decision regarding the proposed amendments of their colleagues to the 2026 budget bill.

The Senate on Tuesday formally opened the period of amendments to the proposed 2026 national budget. Several senators then introduced their individual amendments on the floor which were deemed submitted for the body’s consideration. 

“Nag-usap na kami sa majority bloc. Kasi kami, we’re all four-square behind Senator Gatchalian,” Lacson said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(We have talked in the majority bloc. We're all four-square behind Senator Gatchalian.) 

“Ini-entrust namin kay Senator Gatchalian kung ano ang mga tatanggaping individual amendments, ano ang ire-reject, at susuportahan namin siya kung dadating sa botohan sa floor,” he added. 

(We entrust to Senator Gatchalian what individual amendments will be accepted and what will be rejected, and we will support him if it has to come to a vote on the floor.) 

The Senate President Pro Tempore also said that Gatchalian also has the support of the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO), which would analyze the amendments every step of the way.

Gatchalian earlier said that the Senate remains on track so far to pass the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), despite admitting apprehensions due to a “very tight” work timeline. 

Based on the tentative calendar he released, the Senate is set to approve the 2026 budget bill on second reading on Wednesday, December 3, and approve it on third reading on December 9.  

The bicameral meetings between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives would only be held on December 11 to 13, while the signing of the 2026 GAA by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is targeted on December 29. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News