Senators confident 2026 budget passage will not be delayed

Senators are confident that the passage of the 2026 budget will not be delayed, despite a recent change in the House of Representatives' leadership.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos stated that House committee chairmanships will remain unchanged to avoid disrupting budget deliberations, emphasizing the importance of passing the P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

Plenary debates for the budget are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 22, and continue late into the night.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is optimistic that the deliberation on the 2026 national budget would remain on track.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco mentioned that leadership changes in the House are unlikely before Congress goes on recess next month, suggesting that new Speaker Bojie Dy should be allowed to choose his team after the break.

Tiangco supported Marcos's stance that there would be no leadership movements until the budget is approved on October 8, respecting the importance of the legislative agenda and schedule.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is open to a proposal to cut project costs by as much as 10 percent.