By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains confident that the proposed 2026 national budget will be passed before year-end, Malacañang said on Thursday, following the conclusion of the bicameral conference committee deliberations by Congress.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President is confident that the final version of the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) will be transmitted to Malacañang on time and signed before the end of the year.
“Confident pa rin ang Pangulo na mapipirmahan ang maayos na 2026 national budget,” Castro said in a text message.
The Senate and the House of Representatives early Thursday ended the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 GAA, capping six days of negotiations aimed at reconciling differing provisions of the budget measure and ensuring a transparent and responsive national budget.
The bicameral conference committee wrapped up its work at 2:22 a.m., reconciling the disagreeing provisions of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill.
Malacañang earlier said Marcos is closely monitoring the budget process and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of a national budget that supports economic growth, social services, and priority government programs, while remaining fiscally responsible.
Congress is targeting the ratification of the proposed budget for 2026 and its transmittal to Marcos on Dec. 29, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said in an interview after the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed funding for 2026.
Once transmitted, the President has until the end of the year to sign the budget into law or exercise his line-item veto power, in line with constitutional timelines.
