Senate approves P6.7-trillion 2026 budget on second reading with transparency portal

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson assured transparency in the Senate's version of the 2026 national budget, approved on second reading, with all amendments reflected on a transparency portal.

Lacson stated that the portal details individual amendments by senators and their proponents, unlike previous "whispers" or secret insertions.

The Senate approved the P6.7-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on second reading with a P68.667-billion reduction in new appropriations.

The Senate's transparency portal displays livestream videos of deliberations and additional documents and transcripts of hearings.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also pledged transparency, confirming electronic copies of the GAB were distributed and full details of amendments would be public before third reading.

Despite concerns about unprogrammed funds, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano deemed the Senate-approved GAB a 'good budget'.

The Senate has committed to abandoning 'budget insertion' through secret amendments in bicameral conferences, with all changes now disclosed openly.

The bicameral conference committee meetings to reconcile differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the budget will be livestreamed.