By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
The Bicameral Conference Committee on House Bill No. 4058, or the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act, formally opened its deliberations on Saturday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
It marked the first time a national budget bicameral conference was livestreamed and open to the public.
The meeting was formally opened by Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who heads the Senate panel, together with House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing.
The bicameral conference committee is tasked with reconciling the disagreeing provisions of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, with discussions expected to run for two days.
In his opening remarks, Gatchalian said the bicameral conference is Congress’ most important legislative exercise each year.
“Every year, Congress convenes as a single body to finalize in bicam its most important legislation—discussing the varying perspectives of each chamber and reconciling their fiscal priorities to craft a national budget that is coherent, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the Filipino people,” he said.
Gatchalian underscored that deliberations on the 2026 national budget are being conducted amid extraordinary circumstances, citing concerns over public trust following corruption issues linked to flood control projects.
“This year finds us in extraordinary times. The 2026 national budget is being deliberated upon as the nation grapples with the corruption revealed in the flood control scandal,” he said, adding that Congress must act to “repair our social contract with the people we have sworn to serve.”
Both chambers, he said, responded by stepping up transparency measures and for the first time, the bicameral conference committee meeting on the national budget is being livestreamed for public access.
“This is a recognition that the Filipino people are the ultimate stakeholders of every peso contained within every national budget. And as such, they have a right to know exactly where their taxes go,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also emphasized the constitutional role of the bicameral conference in reconciling the House-passed appropriations bill with Senate amendments, expressing hope that the process would uphold the will of the people.
“Hindi lamang upang mapanatili ang integridad ng sistema ng lehislatura. Kundi upang matiyak na sa pambansang badyet na ito, ang kalooban at kapangyarihan ng sambayanang Pilipino ang mananaig,” he said.
Meanwhile, Suansing said the bicam is “the actualization of the House’s commitment since August, even before the budget deliberations started, to open and livestream the bicameral conference committee proceedings.”
She said the move will ensure that the 2026 budget shall not only be transparent, with adequate safeguards against abuse, but will also provide funds for projects that respond to the needs of the people.
“We are here not only to reconcile disagreeing provisions of the 2026 budget, but to continue structural reforms that place transparency at the center of how public funds are allocated,” Suansing said.
“Pinapangako po ng inyong Kongreso na ang budget para sa taong 2026 ay mararamdaman ng bawat Pilipino, na ito ay tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan at ng ating bansa—na ito ay isang budget na inyong mapapagkatiwalaan,” she said.
