The Senate Committee on Finance is scheduled to present its committee report on the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to the plenary on November 16, according to Senate Senior Majority Leader and panel chairperson JV Ejercito.
Although the committee initially aimed to finish the report by November 11, the timeline was extended to allow for a thorough line-by-line review of agency proposals—including those from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr)—alongside the House-approved General Appropriations Bill.
“Kasalukuyang hinahanda at pineprepare natin ang committee report para ito’y maipasa na natin sa November 11 dapat pero hindi matatapos. Baka November 16 ko na ito maireport sa plenaryo,” Ejercito said in a radio interview with DZRH.
To expedite the detailed inspection, the committee added six to seven extra staff members, with support from Senate President Win Gatchalian. Ejercito emphasized that the Senate is adopting a stricter oversight approach to block past irregularities, such as double entries and faulty geotagging.
“Para talaga isa-isahin, siguraduhin na kumpleto ang requirements at hindi na maulit yung dating double entry, yung mga geotaggings. Kailangan strikto tayo ngayon sa requirements,” he added.
Following the committee report presentation, plenary budget debates are scheduled from November 23 to December 1. The Senate targets second-reading approval on December 3 and third-reading approval on December 7.
The bicameral conference committee will then convene from December 10 to 12 to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the budget.
Congress aims to sign the final bicam report on December 21, ratify it on December 22, and transmit it to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for enactment.