Congress ratifies ₱6.793-T national budget for 2026

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday, Dec. 29, separately ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee (bicam) report on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that proposes a ₱6.793-trillion national budget.

- By ELLSON QUISMORIO and DHEL NAZARIO

The ratified version of the 2026 GAB will then be sent to Malacañang for the signature of President Marcos.

It only took 42 seconds for the House of Representatives to ratify the ₱6.793-trillion GAB for 2026, in what could be one of the shortest plenary sessions in the chamber's history.

The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, resumed session at exactly 2 p.m. Monday.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor said, "We are in receipt of the [Bicameral] Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing votes on House Bill (HB) No.4058, the fiscal year 2026 [GAB]."

"I move that we ratify the said Conference Committee Report," Defensor said.

Singson-Meehan declared the motion to ratify the proposed national budget as approved after a simple voice vote (ayes vs nayes).

Following the ratification, the deputy speaker immediately adjourned the session. The House members won't convene again until Jan. 26, 2026.

Everything took place in less than a minute-42 seconds to be exact. The lightning quick proceedings left some solons, particularly members of the House minority bloc, disappointed as they had planned on explaining their rejection of the 2026 GAB in plenary.

Earlier Monday, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste announced in a Facebook post that he would deliver a privilege speech on the controversial files of the late former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

"I will deliver a privilege speech in Congress this afternoon to share the files from the late Undersecretary Cabral, as well as the secret P18.58 billion MOOE, a fund of Congress, if I am allowed," Leviste said.