DESPITE the absence of their Senate counterparts, the House of Representatives convened at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Monday, prepared to proceed with the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed 2026 national budget.
The Senate panel’s failure to appear has raised concerns about potential delays and the possibility of a re-enacted budget.
House Committee on Appropriations Chair Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing expressed confidence that the House can still avoid a re-enacted budget, despite the postponement of the bicam talks.
“We will work doubly hard between now and Dec. 22. If need be, we may need to push a little bit, but the goal is for it not to cross into the next calendar year. We don’t want a re-enacted budget. Hopefully, that’s what we’re really looking at. We don’t want it to come to that,” Suansing said during a press conference at the PICC.
Suansing emphasized that House leaders and conferees showed up in full force to meet the Dec. 22 deadline for ratifying the bicam report. “As you can see… eight out of eleven representatives from the House side of the bicam are already here at the PICC. We are ready to continue these bicameral conference committee proceedings,” she said.
She noted that the House deliberately adjusted its session calendar—originally set to break for Christmas on Dec. 17—to comply with the agreed timeline. “There’s a timeline we want to follow. You can see that the session calendar was adjusted so that the bicam report can be ratified in both chambers by Dec. 22,” Suansing said. “There are still many agencies to discuss, so every day is really important for us to finish the budget on time,” she added.
Earlier in the day, Suansing’s Senate counterpart, Finance Committee Chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, announced the postponement of Monday’s bicam hearing, citing a deadlock over the 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Suansing said the House was informed of the Senate’s decision only after House conferees had already mobilized to the PICC. “What was relayed to me was the decision already that the Senate wants to postpone it,” she said.
She said the House made clear that consultations with the DPWH and Secretary Vince Dizon could proceed without halting bicam deliberations. “All of us are here, we all believe that we should continue discussions. We can do the consultations with Sec. Vince and DPWH while we’re proceeding with the bicam.”
Suansing stressed that budget issues are best resolved through open, collective discussions rather than separate consultations. “It would be better if we were all in one place to discuss the questions… it would be better if we could discuss that together.”
