Senate, House extend session until Dec. 23 for passage of 2026 budget

The Senate and the House of Representatives will extend their session until December 23, Tuesday to pass the final version of the 2026 national budget.

Both chambers on Tuesday issued a revised legislative calendar showing the adjusted adjournment of session from December 19 to December 23.

Instead of January 19, 2026, the resumption of the session will be on January 26.

The new schedule was contained in Senate and House Concurrent Resolution No. 7.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the extension of the session was necessary to give the bicameral conference committee "ample time."

"This time around, we will ratify the enrolled bill and not a summary of the bicam report.  Therefore, we need an extended time for the printing of the actual enrolled bill," Sotto said.

The Senate on Tuesday night approved the 2026 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading with a 17-0 vote.

The bicameral conference committee will now resolve disagreeing provisions in their respective versions of the 2026 national budget.

The bicameral meetings between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives are slated to be held on December 11 to 13, while the signing of the 2026 GAA by Marcos Jr. is targeted for December 29.

Earlier, Sotto said senators will insist on the livestream of the bicameral conference committee hearings amid alleged opposition from some congressmen. —LDF, GMA Integrated News