Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said a few days of a reenacted budget in 2026 would be acceptable to give President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. time to review the final copy of the 2026 national budget, set for ratification by both chambers on Monday, December 29.
“If they have started reviewing it from now up to that time, there is a possibility but I doubt it. Perhaps sometime like the first week of January would be ideal na na-review na nila yon,” he said.
“Kung ganun lang naman, wala problema because, di ba the last time, meron pa kaming three months na re-enacted.”
Sotto emphasized the Senate wanted to ratify an almost enrolled copy of the budget, not a summary, to avoid blind ratification.
“Pero sa amin, kami nila Sen. Sherwin (Gatchalian), talagang hindi namin kakayanin ‘yung today na mag-ratify because ayoko no’ng summary. Ayoko nang blind ratification katulad ng nangyari last year,” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, while I’m Senate President, gusto ko malinaw ang iraratify namin malinaw na. Almost enrolled copy or enrolled copy na papuntang Presidente. Para malinis na at walang insertion whatsoever,” he added.
Sotto noted that the majority of senators supported the move.
“Actually, pwede talaga ngayon, tutuusin. Ako lang ang may ayaw. And of course, most of the members of the majority, sinusuportahan ako na gusto ko enrolled copy. Ang i-ratify namin, sigurado na yung laman at hindi kayang singitan ng kahit ano.”
He expressed confidence that enough senators would be present on December 29, despite some being abroad.
“Unless quorum is a question. But I understand that most of my colleagues will be here on the 29th. Kasi dapat ngayon eh. Pero nung sinabi namin na hindi pwede ngayon, pwede ba sa 29 na raw ang karamihan sa kanila? Oh, sure. Meron mga out of the country, pero I’m sure we’ll be having more than 13 or 13 members of the Senate on the 29th.”