Budgets of 20 gov't agencies pass bicam

The bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget approved the funding of at least 20 government agencies on Tuesday night, as lawmakers from both chambers move to wrap up deliberations and finalize computations ahead of the New Year.

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Senate committee on finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian said the panel aimed to complete its work yesterday, with the remaining tasks focused on consolidating the reconciled budget both “physically and computation-wise” before transmitting the measure to Malacañang.

Gatchalian said he and House appropriations committee chair Mikaela Angela Suansing discussed scheduling concerns, noting that the ratification process could be complicated as lawmakers begin their holiday breaks.

The senator said quorum is a bigger challenge for the House, which has 318 members, compared to the Senate which has 24.

For her part, Suansing said the bicam approved the budgets of around 21 agencies on Tuesday, leaving about 11 agencies still to be tackled.

Suansing said both chambers are coordinating closely to avoid a reenacted budget and to give President Marcos sufficient time to review the spending measure.

“We are doing everything, we are ensuring that the President will be able to sign the budget before this New Year,” she said.