Malacañang on Tuesday called on Congress to accelerate deliberations on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, stressing that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not want a reenacted budget that could stall development projects and economic growth.
Speaking at a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said, “The work should be faster. The deliberation should be faster. The President does not want a reenacted budget, we know that. So as much as possible, let us speed up (the deliberation) even if we are pressed for time.”
The call came amid ongoing discussions in the Senate, which, according to Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, remains on track to approve the 2026 budget despite disruptions caused by a fire at the Senate building over the weekend. Senate President Vicente Sotto III reassured the public, stating, “All is well” and that there will be no need for a reenacted budget. He added, “We can easily pass this.”
The proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) represents a 7.4 percent increase from the P6.326-trillion allocation for 2025, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The budget is now in the period of amendments ahead of the scheduled third and final reading on December 9. Following Senate approval, bicameral committee meetings with the House of Representatives are expected to run from December 11 to 13, culminating in the signing of the budget by President Marcos on December 29, 2025.
Gatchalian said the bicameral meetings would tentatively last three days, allowing lawmakers sufficient time to reconcile both chambers’ versions of the spending plan.
The urgency in passing the 2026 budget comes amid heightened public scrutiny over government spending, particularly following revelations of corruption in flood control projects, where officials and contractors allegedly pocketed billions of pesos in kickbacks from substandard and ghost projects. The Marcos administration has ordered investigations into these anomalies and vowed to hold perpetrators accountable.
In his budget message, President Marcos emphasized the nation’s need to rebuild after the pandemic while pursuing long-term growth. “I urge the honorable members of Congress to swiftly enact this budget. Let us work together to realize the full potential of our nation, nurture future-ready generations and fulfill our dream of a Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
The budget’s prompt passage is expected to sustain key government programs and infrastructure initiatives, ensuring continued investments that benefit ordinary Filipinos. A delay resulting in a reenacted 2025 budget, experts warn, could disrupt funding flows for critical projects and slow economic momentum.
The tentative legislative calendar for the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) sets December 2 for the period of amendments, followed by approval on second reading on December 3. The third reading is scheduled for December 9, with bicameral conference committee meetings planned from December 11 to 13. The committee report is expected to be signed on December 16, ratified on December 17, the last day of the session, and finally signed into law by the President on December 29.
As Congress works against the clock, the Palace emphasizes that speeding up deliberations is essential to avoid the administrative and economic complications of a reenacted budget and to ensure uninterrupted delivery of government programs next year.
