MANILA — The Senate and the House of Representatives will begin the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget on Saturday, December 13, after both chambers agreed to move the schedule by a day.

House Appropriations Committee Chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing said the new date was reached mutually by the two chambers.

“Both Houses have mutually decided to start the bicam on Saturday (December 13) to allow time for the technical staff to prepare,” Suansing said on Thursday. “Intensive preparations are required given that this is the first time that the bicam will be live-streamed and we would need a matrix of disagreeing provisions for the deliberations.”

The bicameral meeting was initially set for Friday, December 12.

The matrix is expected to guide members of the bicam in resolving differing provisions and identifying priorities in the proposed 2026 national budget.

The House contingent to the bicameral panel includes Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Reps. Jose Alvarez, Javier Miguel Lopez Benitez, Albert Garcia, Romeo Momo Sr., Rufus Rodriguez, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Allan Ty, Brian Raymond Yamsuan, and Maria Carmen Zamora.

The bicam aims to complete deliberations early next week to give the President sufficient time to review and approve the final version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill before the end of the year.