One week reenacted budget won't hurt gov't ops in 2026 — Recto

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Friday allayed concerns about government operating on a reenacted budget in the first week of 2026 as President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will not be signing the proposed 2026 national budget before the year ends.

"A one week reenacted budget won't affect government operations," Recto told GMA News Online.

The Executive Secretary earlier confirmed to GMA News Online that the President will sign the bill outlining the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 in the first week of January. 

Recto explained that "a careful review of the budget will improve execution effectivity."

The bicameral conference committee adjourned last Thursday, wrapping up the extensive deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget after four days.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have adjusted their legislative calendar to pave the way for ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget once the session resumes on December 29.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) defines a reenacted budget as a situation wherein the previous year's General Appropriations Act (GAA) is extended and remains in effect for a preceding year until such time that Congress passes a budget bill into law.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III previously floated the possibility of a reenacted budget for the beginning of 2026. 

Sotto also said there would be no negative implications due to a reenacted budget “for a few days or week or so.”

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, recognized that the President "needs sufficient time" to thoroughly review the enrolled budget documents. 

For Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, a reenacted 2025 budget in January or even in the first quarter of 2026 would be the most prudent option given the corruption issues hounding the government. — VDV, GMA Integrated News