2026 national budget may be signed in January

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III indicated that the P6.793-trillion General Appropriation Bill (GAB) for 2026 might be signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in January.

This possibility arises even though Congress has adjusted its legislative calendar to allow for the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 GAB.

Congress plans to ratify the bicam report on December 29 and adjourn sessions on December 30.

Sotto expressed doubt that the president could sign the budget bill on December 30 or 31, suggesting the first week of January would be a more "ideal" timeframe for signing after review.

He also stated that having a reenacted budget for a few days or a week would not pose a significant problem.

However, Sotto reiterated that the bill's signing could still occur before the year ends if the Office of the President had already begun its review while the measure was still under bicameral committee discussion.