House, Senate reconcile P6.793-trillion 2026 budget

The House of Representatives and the Senate began reconciling their differing versions of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on December 13.

For the first time, the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations on the national budget are being live-streamed for public examination and transparency.

During the first day of hearings, the panel approved the P961.3-billion budget for the Department of Education and placed the P2-billion Tulong Dunong Program fund under the Commission on Higher Education.

The Bicameral Conference Committee also approved the Department of Agriculture's P33-billion farm-to-market roads budget.

Members of the Bicameral Committee will again meet on Sunday afternoon for Day 2 of deliberations on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.

These deliberations follow the swift passage of both chambers' General Appropriations Bills, amid public scrutiny over flood control allocations and the use of confidential funds.