The Senate has decided that there will be no shortcuts in approving the 2026 national budget. According to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not want to certify the budget as urgent. This means that it will go through the normal process of second and third reading to thoroughly examine the details.
Sotto said the President wants lawmakers to have enough time to read and study whether everything in the budget is correct. He added that the President does not want to shortcut the three-day rule in Congress and the Senate.
Sotto also explained that the Senate will avoid using unprogrammed funds or funds that can only be used when the government has new revenue or debt. Only foreign-assisted projects are possible. In previous budgets, the funds here were used for flood control projects that are now under investigation due to allegations of corruption.
Furthermore, Sotto said that the rumors of a coup plot against him should not affect the work of the Senate. There will be no plenary sessions until October 10 to allow for the ongoing budget hearings of the committees.
