The Senate Committee on Finance is awaiting the full damage assessment from Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan before opening plenary deliberations on the 2026 national budget, Senator Erwin Tulfo said.
According to Tulfo, the extent of destruction will determine which additional budget requests from local government units (LGUs) need to be incorporated into the proposed spending plan.
He noted that Palawan and other areas hit hard by Typhoon Tino will likely submit urgent appeals in time for the plenary debates set on Thursday, November 13.
“Sabi ko ‘Boss papaano ‘yung Northern Luzon?’ Sabi ko ‘tatamaan pa lang ngayon Lunes’ sana hindi na,” Tulfo said in a radio interview.
“Eh papaano kung may kailangan silang tulay na naputol, infrastructure, offices.”
Tulfo added that Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is expected to convene senators once session resumes to discuss both the budget plenary debates and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled for Friday, November 14.
Malacañang earlier suspended work in government offices and classes in NCR, CAR, and Regions 1 to 8 for Monday, November 10, due to the threat of Super Typhoon Uwan.