Senate President Tito Sotto announced that the chamber will not adjourn for its Christmas recess until the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget is ratified, signaling flexibility in session days to avoid a reenacted budget.
“We’re not on break yet, not until we ratify the bicam [report]. Once we ratify the [report], that’s when we adjourn,” Sotto said on December 6, stressing the importance of timely passage of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
The bicameral committee, reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions, was initially set from December 13 to 16 but may be advanced to December 10 to 13.
“Hopefully, the bicam will only take about three days… If that happens, we can ratify on the 14th. Or at the latest, by the 15th or 16th,” Sotto said.
He emphasized that the Senate will adjourn only after the budget is fully ready for the President’s review. After ratification, the House will prepare the enrolled bill for signatures before transmitting it to Malacañang.
“They will review it. The President will not automatically sign. We will know then if there will be vetoes or anything else. They have plenty of time,” Sotto added, noting that the ideal signing date is December 29 or 30.