Senate President Tito Sotto and Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson on Tuesday assured that Congress will not allow a reenacted national budget for 2026, easing concerns raised over the tight approval timeline.
Reenacted budgets have long alarmed watchdogs due to alleged abuses in past years. Finance committee chairperson Win Gatchalian earlier warned that the budget would reach President Bongbong Marcos for signing only by December 29, just days before year-end.
Sotto dismissed fears over the schedule, saying, “Hindi kami papayag, hindi kami papayag (sa) reenacted budget.”
Lacson outlined the chamber’s timeline, saying the Senate aims to complete individual amendments and secure second-reading approval by Tuesday, followed by a third-reading vote by Friday.
A bicameral conference committee, he said, could meet next week to reconcile the Senate and House versions.
“Malabo yung reenacted budget. Saka hindi kami papayag. Unless bumagyo ng malakas na hindi kami makapag-bicam,” he added.
Lacson said the Senate intends to pass a national budget free of questionable provisions.
He noted that ongoing amendments will remove flagged allocations: “Ngayon, mag-a-amend kami… So sa committee amendments pa lang, I’m sure, mawawala na yun… Ako may mga papa-delete ako eh.”
He also warned that more issues remain undiscovered, particularly within the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“Maraming red flags sa DPWH. Marami pang hindi nadi-discover,” he said, adding that even the 2026 National Expenditure Program contains “allocable” items requiring scrutiny.