Congress Adjusts Schedule for 2026 Budget Approval
Congress has extended its session hours to ensure the timely transmittal, deliberation, and approval of the proposed 2026 national budget. This adjustment comes after a formal request from the House of Representatives, aiming to provide ample time for thorough examination before the next fiscal year begins.
Originally set to conclude sessions on October 3, Congress will now continue working until October 10, as stipulated in Concurrent Resolution No. 5 adopted by the Senate. The adjournment of the session has also been moved from October 4 to October 11.
Senate Leaders Explain the Need for Calendar Changes
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva emphasized that the adjustment in the legislative calendar is necessary to fulfill Congress’s constitutional duty to enact the annual appropriations law. “This is nothing new,” Villanueva said, noting that similar changes have been made before to ensure sufficient time for budget deliberations.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, presiding during the session, confirmed that the House communicated the urgency of this change. Without adjusting the calendar, the House would only be able to transmit the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) to the Senate by November 11, significantly limiting the Senate’s time to review the budget.
Extended Session Benefits Budget Deliberations
Escudero explained that with the revised schedule, the House expects to transmit the budget by October 24. Although the Senate will be on recess at that time, the Committee on Finance can begin processing the bill immediately. This early start will enable the committee to prepare a report so the plenary can promptly tackle the budget upon resuming sessions.
President Marcos’s Stance on the 2026 Budget
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made it clear that he will not approve any budget that does not align with the administration’s priorities. During his recent State of the Nation Address, he warned that any proposed General Appropriations Bill not fully consistent with the National Expenditure Program will be returned for revision, even if it means working with a reenacted budget.
These developments highlight the importance of the 2026 national budget as Congress works diligently to meet deadlines and ensure that government funding supports the administration’s programs effectively.
For more news and updates on the 2026 national budget, visit Filipinokami.com.
