Live updates: Bicam hearing for proposed 2026 national budget (Dec. 16, 2025)

The bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed P6.793 trillion budget for 2026 resumed on Tuesday, December 16.

The Senate initially postponed the third day of the bicam conference hearing over a “deadlock” on the allocation for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The House and the Senate contingent were at odds mainly on the DPWH’s budget, which was reduced by the House from P880 billion to P624 billion – and was further slashed by the Senate to P570 billion.  

But Senate finance committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian later said that the hearing will resume after House appropriations panel chairperson Mikaela Suansing appealed to their Senate counterparts to resume discussions on next year’s spending plan.

Here's the latest on the bicam conference:

 

 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News