2026 national budget bicam meeting moved to Dec 13

The bicameral conference committee meeting to reconcile the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 has been moved to December 13, 2025.

This rescheduling from December 12 to December 13, 2025, was requested by technical staff from both the Senate and the House of Representatives to allow more time to reconcile conflicting provisions and amounts in the budget documents.

This is the first time the bicam will be live-streamed following public outcry over last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian assured that all documents will be made public and the meetings will be live-streamed.

While only lawmakers and their staff will be physically allowed inside the room, budget watchdogs are assured that all documents will be made public and the meetings will be live-streamed.

The Senate has extended its session until December 23, 2025, to accommodate the printing of the enrolled copy of the budget, expected by December 22.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III emphasized that ratifying the enrolled copy is a new measure to promote transparency in the budget process.