Ratification, transmittal of proposed 2026 National budget eyed on Dec. 29

The 2026 national budget will not yet be ready in time for Christmas, as the Senate and the House of Representatives push back its timeline in ratifying the proposed budget. 

Senate finance committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said both houses now aim to ratify the P6.7-trillion spending bill on Dec. 29, which is a week more than the initial Dec. 22 target. 

“Based on the timetable ng mga staff, baka 28 ang pirmahan and 29 ang ratification kasi ‘yung pagbabalanse, pag-pi-print…kasi we have to reconcile our numbers with theirs. That process alone would take five days,” Gatchalian said in an ambush interview after concluding the historic bicameral conference committee talks on the national budget early Thursday morning. 

(Based on the timetable of the staff, the signing will be on the 28th and the ratification will be on the 29th, because we still have to balance, print, and we also have to reconcile our numbers with theirs. That process alone would take five days.) 

Gatchalian said the re-adjusted timeline, which is in consultation with House appropriations panel chairperson Rep. Mika Suansing, also took into consideration Noche Buena and Christmas. 

They aim to transmit the ratified budget proposal to the Office of the President in the afternoon of Dec. 29, he added. 

No veto?

This leaves President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. two days to sign the 2026 national budget and veto items, if deemed necessary. 

“Paspasan talaga (It will really be in a rush),” Gatchalian said. 

Despite the rush, Suansing said there is ample time for the executive department to scrutinize the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). 

“Simultaneous na ‘yung finalization ng enrolled bill ng GAB at review ng [Department of Budget Management], so rest assured, the executive has enough time to review the GAB before the President signs it,” she explained. 

(The finalization of the enrolled GAB and the DBM review is simultaneous, so rest assured, the executive has enough time to review the GAB before the President signs it.) 

An adjustment in the already-delayed budget timeline would need another amendment to the legislative calendar, which both houses plan to accomplish on Monday, according to Suansing. 

Gatchalian and Suansing said they are confident the President will not veto any item in the proposed national budget. 

“Throughout the whole process, very, very close coordination with us and the executive,” Suansing said. 

The bicameral conference panel would also inform the respective agencies of adjustments in their budget, she added. 

“So yes, we are confident that the President will not veto the budget."  —VAL, GMA Integrated News