The House of Representatives on Monday ratified House Bill 4058, or the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) report on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which outlines the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for next year.
The ratification was carried out through viva voce, or voice voting, during the plenary session on Monday, December 29.
House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Laurence Defensor stood on the floor to formally announce the chamber’s acceptance of the Bicam report. The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Christine Meehan Singson of Ilocos Sur.
Earlier, House leaders dismissed allegations that the chamber’s leadership influenced lawmakers’ votes on the proposed 2026 national budget.
According to RH Milky Rigonan's report in Rapido Hataw Balita, Nueva Ecija Representative and House Committee on Appropriations ChairmanMikaela Suansing rejected claims made by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, who alleged that a staff member of the House Committee on Appropriations showed him a document listing ₱151 million worth of budget items supposedly offered as an incentive in exchange for his favorable vote.
Suansing emphasized that the House of Representatives is a collegial body that respects the independence of each member to vote and decide based on the needs of their constituents and their own conscience.
She stressed that it has long been a principle and policy of the House leadership not to influence how lawmakers vote.
Meanwhile, progressive group Bayan Muna staged a protest in front of the Batasang Pambansa complex, timed with the House’s ratification of the 2026 GAB. The group criticized the proposed budget, branding it as “anti-people” and “pork-ridden.”
The Senate is also expected to ratify the proposed national budget on Monday afternoon. Once ratified by both chambers, the measure will be transmitted to Malacañang for the signature of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The President is expected to sign the 2026 national budget on January 5, 2026. As a result, a reenacted budget—using the 2025 national budget—will be implemented during the first days of 2026.
