Manila: The Senate and the House of Representatives concluded the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) early Thursday, finalizing six days of discussions aimed at crafting a transparent and responsive national budget. The bicameral committee, known as the bicam, completed its task at approximately 2:22 a.m., successfully reconciling the differing provisions of the PHP6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate panel was led by Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, while the House contingent was headed by Committee on Appropriations chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing. Gatchalian stated that the bicam fulfilled its mandate and produced a budget that is responsive to public needs. He expressed confidence in the final output, noting that the budget addresses public concerns on integrity and pricing.

Representative Suansing described the conclusion of the bicam as historic, highlighting it as the first time that national budget bicameral proceedings were livestreamed. She emphasized that the livestream allowed the public to witness firsthand the effort involved in crafting the national budget, hoping that it provided transparency and insight into the process.