IN the early hours of Thursday, December 18, the Senate and House of Representatives concluded their bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The bicameral panel wrapped up its work at approximately 2:22 AM, successfully reconciling the differing provisions of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, led the Senate panel, while Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing, chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations for Nueva Ecija’s 1st District, headed the House contingent.
Gatchalian stated that the bicameral committee had fulfilled its mandate and created a budget that addresses the needs of the people. “Finally, we have concluded our bicameral conference committee meeting, and we have a budget that we can be proud of and responsive to the Filipino people,” the senator said. “I am confident that this budget will truly address the needs of our countrymen.”
Suansing described the conclusion of the bicameral conference as historic, noting that it marked the first time that national budget bicameral proceedings were livestreamed. “Again, this is a very historic day for our country. This is the very first livestream of the bicameral conference committee proceedings,” she said. “I hope that now our fellow citizens were able to see firsthand how hard we worked to create this budget.”
