Manila: Senate and House leaders on Sunday explained the delayed start of the second day of the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget, citing the need to address concerns on several budget items before talks could resume. Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan stated that the Senate requested to postpone the scheduled 2 p.m. resumption of the bicam meeting to 3 p.m. due to issues raised by some senators regarding provisions that had already been discussed, as well as items still slated for deliberation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pangilinan expressed apologies to the House counterparts for the delay, emphasizing that the decision was necessary as some senators had concerns about certain budget items. The Senate’s internal meeting to address these concerns lasted nearly two hours. Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also acknowledged the House contingent’s early arrival and apologized for the inconvenience.
House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing conveyed understanding and acceptance of the situation, noting that the delay allowed House members time for internal consultations. Suansing expressed optimism that lawmakers could proceed with the remaining agenda for the day.
The bicameral conference committee eventually resumed its deliberations at exactly 4:49 p.m. The panel is responsible for reconciling the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 4058, or the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act. The proceedings were opened to the public and livestreamed to ensure transparency in the budget process.
