MANILA — Lawmakers on Sunday, December 28, approved the final version of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, concluding one of the most closely watched bicameral conference committee proceedings in recent memory.

Members of the bicameral committee from the House of Representatives and the Senate signed the 4,037-page committee report on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, clearing it for ratification on Monday, December 29. Once ratified, the budget will be transmitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signature. Malacañang said the President is expected to sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act in the first week of January.

Until the new budget is enacted, the national government will operate under a reenacted budget based on 2025 spending levels.

The 2026 budget is larger than this year’s P6.326-trillion GAA, reflecting higher allocations amid inflationary pressures, rising debt servicing costs, and growing local spending demands.

Historic transparency and public scrutiny

The bicam deliberations unfolded amid a major corruption scandal involving alleged ghost flood control projects at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), turning the normally low-profile process into a focal point of public attention and calls for reform.

For the first time in Philippine history, the bicameral proceedings were livestreamed in response to public pressure. Lawmakers hailed the move as a milestone for transparency, although critics noted that key discussions still took place off-camera through private meetings.

The final four-day debate concluded at 2:22 a.m. Thursday after a 10-hour session, with Bicam chairs Senator Win Gatchalian and Rep. Mikaela Suansing expressing confidence that President Marcos Jr. would sign the enrolled bill without vetoes.

“I’m confident that nothing will be vetoed, very confident,” Gatchalian said. “[A]ll the safeguards are included in this budget. So there will be no recurrence of flood control, ghost, and substandard projects.”

Suansing assured that no line items were removed or added without proper coordination and said the timeline allowed the President and his economic team ample time to review the budget before enactment.

DPWH allocation trimmed amid controversies

The DPWH’s 2026 allocation was initially set at P881.3 billion but was reduced through the bicam process due to controversies surrounding flood control projects. The House cut P255 billion from locally funded flood control programs, redirecting funds to education, health, and agriculture, leaving the department with P625.7 billion. The Senate further trimmed the allocation to P568 billion.

Suansing said, “So we’re roughly at P570 billion for DPWH. That’s a substantial decrease. Almost a P300-billion decrease from the original level of P881 billion in the NEP (National Expenditure Program).”

The bicam’s approval of the 2026 budget ends concerns over a possible reenacted budget, which could have slowed economic activity and delayed funding for new programs and projects.