Manila: Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced that the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget will convene continuously from December 12 to 14, without a weekend break. This decision ensures that senators and House members will work straight through the weekend to complete the negotiations on schedule. According to Philippines News Agency, Sotto clarified in a series of exchanges with reporters in the Senate press Viber group that the three-day timetable includes Saturday and Sunday. This was the agreement reached during earlier discussions to ensure the timely completion of the budget negotiations. Sotto highlighted that this marks the first occasion the budget bicameral conference committee will not observe a weekend break. The decision aims to ensure the spending bill is completed, printed, and ratified before Congress adjourns on December 23. The extended schedule is deemed necessary as lawmakers plan to ratify the enrolled bill itself, rather than a summary of the bicam repor t, which requires additional time for printing and verification. Furthermore, Sotto assured the press that the Senate would permit a media gallery and livestreaming of the proceedings. Instructions have been given to finalize arrangements ahead of the committee's opening on Thursday.