By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After extensive deliberations of the bicameral conference committee from Dec. 14-18, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives formally signed the reconciled version of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on Sunday, Dec. 28.
The event, led by House Panel Chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing and Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, represents the culmination of a rigorous process to ensure transparency and accountability in the 2026 national budget.
Suansing said in a statement, “Ang gusto po naming itawag sa budget na ito ay isang people-centered budget. Talaga pong in terms of the process itself, we made sure that [it] is transparent and accountable to the Filipino people.”
Gatchalian added, Ang overall direction po nitong budget na ito ay human development, at makikita po natin na malaki po ang pondong inilaan natin sa edukasyon, sa kalusugan, at sa agrikultura.”
Both lawmakers likewise emphasized the inclusion of safeguards to plug loopholes that may be exploited to funnel insertions and unnecessary expenditures to prevent a repeat of irregularities that plagued the 2025 national budget.
They were joined by Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, and JV Ejercito, as well as House Members Reps. Jose Alvarez, Javier Miguel Benitez, Albert Garcia, Marcelino Libanan, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, and Allan Ty.
The House of Representatives and the Senate are scheduled to ratify the report in plenary session Monday afternoon, before the appropriations bill is formally transmitted to the Chief Executive for his approval.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to sign House Bill No. 4058 in the first week of January 2026, after next year’s national budget undergoes thorough scrutiny from the President’s economic and legal teams.
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