Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the contract signing of the construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) Quezon Avenue and East Avenue Station, as well as the Anonas and Camp Aguinaldo stations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/pool/FILE

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765870542940Screenshot 2025-12-16 153420_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the contract signing of the construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) Quezon Avenue and East Avenue Station, as well as the Anonas and Camp Aguinaldo stations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/pool/FILE</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang remains optimistic that Congress can pass the 2026 national budget on time despite a deadlock in the bicameral conference committee over allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways, and funding for medical assistance of indigent patients.</p><p>“Sa puso at isipan ng Pangulo, kakayanin ito kasi ang gusto natin lahat, pati ang Pangulo ayaw niya ng reenacted budget,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/2026-budget-no-longer-on-schedule-admits-gatchalian-2010">2026 budget no longer on schedule, admits Gatchalian</a></div><p>“So dapat pagpursigihan, matapos para maipasa yung 2026 budget. Ayaw namin isipin ang Plan B,” she said,</p><p>Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said that deliberations on the 2026 national budget is no longer moving as scheduled, but added that he remains confident that the 2026 spending bill can be approved before the New Year.</p><p>“Alam natin na lahat ng kakayanan ay dapat na gawin para hindi mauwi ang isang budget na reenacted budget,” Castro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/gatchalian-bicam-hearing-postponed-over-dpw-budget-deadlock-1545">Bicam hearing postponed over DPWH budget deadlock</a></div><p>“Ayaw po ng Pangulo niyan, kahit po ang Department of Finance ay nangangamba kung magkakaroon ng reenacted budget dahil marami pong madi-delay na proyekto kapag nagkataon,” she said.</p><p>Castro said she has yet to receive information if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reached out to Senate and House leaders to try to iron out issues in the budget.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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/o5YmvK-J4m0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/gqfLxuJJJl0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang remains optimistic that Congress can pass the 2026 national budget on time despite a deadlock in the bicameral conference committee.</p>

Malacañang remains optimistic that Congress can pass the 2026 national budget on time despite a deadlock in the bicameral conference committee.

Palace still optimistic of timely 2026 budget passage despite bicam deadlock

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Palace still optimistic of timely 2026 budget passage despite bicam deadlock

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 16, 2025 03:39 PM PHT

Read More:

2026 budget

2026 General Appropriations Act

Department of Public Works and Highways

DPWH

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