House elects 11 lawmakers to bicam panel on 2026 national budget

The House of Representatives has elected the members of its contingent to the bicameral conference committee that will reconcile the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026. 

During Wednesday night’s plenary session, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos moved to name the following 11 congressmen to the contingent:

• House Appropriations Committee chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Suansing 
• Bataan 2nd district Rep. Albert Garcia 
• Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan 
• Palawan 2nd district Rep. Jose Alvarez
• Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. 
• Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez 
• Camiguin Lone District Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo 
• Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Brian Yamsuan 
• Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Javier Lopez Benitez 
• House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, and
• LPGMA Party-list Rep. Allan Ty.

Marcos’ motion was approved by the House plenary via a voice vote.

Earlier, the Senate designated its own contingent to the bicameral conference committee: Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Pia Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Camille Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Go, and Imee Marcos.

Estrada later withdrew as a member of the Senate’s contingent to the bicameral conference committee, while dela Rosa has been absent since November 11.

Senators and House members will meet from December 11 to 13 to settle the disagreeing provisions in their respective versions of the spending plan.

Earlier, Suansing said the House remains fully supportive of livestreaming the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

The said initiative was pushed by some lawmakers earlier to dispel suspicions that members of Congress made illegal insertions in the government’s spending plan.

The Senate and the House of Representatives also adjusted their legislative calendar by extending the sessions until December 23 to pass the final version of the 2026 national budget.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said the enrolled copy of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill would be submitted to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. before Christmas Day for his review and approval. — JMA, GMA Integrated News