The House of Representatives and Senate on Monday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the ₱6.793-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026.
The House approved the measure via voice vote in a plenary session that lasted under two minutes. Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor moved for ratification, seconded by colleagues, with Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan presiding.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri moved for ratification after Senate Finance Committee chairperson Win Gatchalian presented the report’s highlights. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III approved the motion.
House Appropriations Committee chairperson Mika Suansing emphasized that the budget is focused on public needs and excludes flood control funding, except for two foreign-assisted items.
“Kung ang worry po ay ‘yung flood control, definitely po I can say with 100% certainty na hindi na po makakahila ng kahit anumang flood control [na pondo] kahit saan man sa budget. Wala na pong flood control sa ating budget para po sa taong 2026,” she said.
Suansing also assured that the budget contains no insertions or hidden programs.
“Wala pong insertions sa ating budget, wala pong tago ng mga pondo o programa na isiningit sa budget. Lahat po ito ay dumaan sa masusing deliberasyon ng Kongreso,” she said, adding that allocations are based on district engineering office plans.
She clarified that the ₱243 billion in unprogrammed funds will not be used for infrastructure, noting the removal of the SAGIP provision.
“The special provisions specify what are the authorized uses of the items under unprogrammed appropriations. They are clearly spelled out. Wala na pong SAGIP. Wala na pong infrastructure projects,” Suansing said.
Only foreign-assisted infrastructure projects remain eligible under unprogrammed funds, subject to strict scrutiny.
“(These) are subject to intense scrutiny because their funding is a product of multilateral negotiations between the Philippine government and our multilateral partners,” she added.