Joselito Malig

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - The country&#x27;s first ever livestreamed bicameral conference committee proceedings on the 2026 national budget got off to an intense start. </p><p>This, after Senator Imee Marcos flagged the bicameral panel for not having the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways on the reconciliation document that was circulated among lawmakers of the panel ahead of the meeting.</p><p>Senate Finance Committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian explained that the DPWH budget will be discussed on Sunday and assured Marcos that lawmakers will have the DPWH budget before the discussions.</p><p>Marcos also flagged the Department of Education budget for being &quot;too high&quot; even when it has built few classrooms.</p><p>Gatchalian explained that the lag was because it was the DPWH which was tasked to build classrooms exclusively, something that will change starting in the 2026 budget as the agency will be authorized to partner with local government units. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/lawmaker-facing-plunder-graft-complaints-resigns-from-2026-budget-bicam-committee-1652"><strong>Lawmaker facing plunder, graft complaints resigns from 2026 budget bicam committee</strong></a></div><p>Senators Loren Legarda and Bong Go meanwhile insisted on more funds for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. </p><p>Legarda specifically wants PhilHealth to get the funds it was earmarked under the so-called &quot;sin tax&quot; laws.</p><p>With these aside, lawmakers  began the task of going through each item of the House General Appropriations Bill vis-a-vis the Senate version line by line, beginning with the budget of the education sector. </p><p>The panel approved a budget of over P958 billion for the Department of Education Office of the Secretary, among other attached agencies.</p><p>It then proceeded to go over the budgets of each of the over 100 state universities and colleges.</p><p>Before going through the budget, the co-chairs of the panel highlighted the task at hand for the panel.</p><p>&quot;This year finds us in extraordinary times. The 2026 national budget is being deliberated upon as the nation grapples with the corruption revealed in the flood control scandal. Public trust in our government institutions has been shaken, and so it is imperative that we do everything we can to repair our social contract with the people we have sworn to serve.&quot; Gatchalian said in his opening remarks. </p><p>&quot;This is a recognition that the Filipino people are the ultimate stakeholders of every peso contained within every national budget,&quot; he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/11/house-adopts-concurrent-resolution-for-open-and-transparent-bicam-0946"><strong>House adopts concurrent resolution for ‘open and transparent bicam’ </strong></a> </div><p>&quot;Siguraduhin natin na ang pambansang badyet para sa taong 2026 ay magsisilbing daan sa pag-angat ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Ipakita natin sa kanila na hindi lang kathang-isip ang isang gobyernong matino, bukas, at kumikilos ng tama. Patunayan nating lahat na hindi natin pababayaan ang kanilang mga pangarap.&quot; </p><p>His House counterpart, Appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing, meanwhile noted that the 2 chambers versions, both prioritized education, health and agriculture after the corrupted flood control funds were expunged from the budget. </p><p>&quot;The P255 billion from the removal of Flood Control Projects under DPWH were reallocated mainly to the 3 key sectors identified by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.: Education, Health and Agriculture. Specifically: P201.1 billion out of the P255 billion or 79% went to the following: P56.6 billion towards education, P90.7 billion towards health, P53.7 billion towards agriculture,&quot; Suansing said.</p><p>Senator Erwin Tulfo urged his colleagues to keep their focus on education and health.</p><p>&quot;So just be quick, Mr. Chair. This representation firmly believes that our collective focus must be education and health. And I believe this is the first time the twin foundations of long-term national development. These are not optional expenditures, Mr. Chair. They&#x27;re strategic investments that determine whether our people merely survive or truly thrive,&quot; he said.</p><p>The bicameral panel expects to wrap up its work on Sunday, eyeing the ratification of the ultimate version of the budget on December 22, ahead of the President&#x27;s scheduled signing of the bill on December 29.</p><div>  </div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ZB2oUAWQV8??si=DG1PLyTOAPIj7v1d&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The country's first ever livestreamed bicameral conference committee proceedings on the 2026 national budget got off to an intense start.</p>

The country's first ever livestreamed bicameral conference committee proceedings on the 2026 national budget got off to an intense start.

Livestreamed bicam on 2026 national budget off to intense start

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Livestreamed bicam on 2026 national budget off to intense start

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 13, 2025 06:30 PM PHT

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Updated December 13, 2025 06:32 PM PHT

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Bicameral Committee

Congress

Budget deliberations

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