House OKs ₱6.793-T nat'l budget for 2026

The House of Representatives survived a potentially tumultuous mid-Congress leadership change to pass the ₱6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026 on time.

- By ELLSON QUISMORIO

Approved on third and final reading on the strength of 287 “yes” votes during plenary session Monday afternoon, Oct 13, was House Bill (HB) No.4058, the legislative equivalent of the 2026 GAB.

Deputy Speaker Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, the presiding officer at that time, declared the final passage of the next year’s outlay. Nominal voting results showed that only 12 House members voted “no”, while two others abstained.

The 2026 GAB also beat the current ₱6.326-trillion enacted budget for 2025 as the biggest in the country’s history.

Both legislative chambers (House and Senate) will go on a month-long recess after Monday’s plenary session.