Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said all amendments to the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will only be allowed during the second reading to prevent last-minute insertions.
Over Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Sotto said senators must submit or voice out their proposed changes during the second reading. "Walang mag-iinsert sa third reading o sa Bicam. In other words, zero insertions," he said.
(All senators will only be allowed to propose amendments on the floor during the second reading. Amendments should be submitted or voiced out at the second reading. No insertions will be allowed during the third reading or in the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings. In other words, zero insertions.)
He added President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. refused to certify the budget as urgent, saying, "Nung LEDAC namin, sinabi niya agad, 'I will not certify any of your budget as urgent dahil baka isipin nila inaapura natin.'"
(During our Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting, Marcos said, 'I will not certify any of your budget as urgent because the public might think we're rushing it.')
Scrap unprogrammed funds
Sotto said the Senate aims to remove unprogrammed funds and reallocate them to proper agencies. He cited foreign-assisted projects as a challenge in scrapping some allocations. "Hindi namin papayagan na maging unprogrammed lang 'yun nang ganun," he said, referring to items like AICS and MAIP, which he said should be placed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Health.
"Ang usapan namin ni Sen. Sherwin, sabi ko 'Win, 'yung unprogrammed burahin natin 'yun ah." Ang sabi niya, ang problema dun ay 'yung foreign assisted. Hindi natin pwedeng alisin basta bsata foreign assisted [projects]," Sotto said.
(I told Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to remove the unprogrammed funds, but he said the problem is with the foreign-assisted projects. We can't just remove those.)
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.
The House removed ?35 billion from the unprogrammed fund under the SAGIP program, but rejected a motion to scrap the entire ?249 billion unprogrammed appropriations.
The House had scrapped P35 billion worth of funding for Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure Program (SAGIP) lodged under the unprogrammed fund.
This came after the House plenary rejected the motion of Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno to remove the entire P249 billion unprogrammed appropriations.
"Hindi namin papayagan na maging unprogrammed lang 'yun nang ganun," Sotto said.
(We will not just let this amount go to the unprogrammed funds.)
"Kung mayroon silang inilalagay sa unprogrammed katulad ng AICS at MAIP, 'yung medical assistance, ilagay sa institusyon, sa [DSWD] at DOH. Bakit kailangan nasa unprogrammed?" he added.
(If they have unprogrammed funds for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients, it should go to the rightful institutions like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health. Why put it in the unprogrammed funds?)
Sotto also maintained his support to livestream the Bicam hearings to improve transparency.
"Sisiguruhin ko ang livestreaming ay open hindi lamang sa Facebook ng Senate kundi pati sa YouTube," he said.
(I will make sure that the livestreaming is available not only on the Senate's Facebook page but also on YouTube.)
He added that anyone who wishes to go observe the Bicam hearings is welcome to do so.
Sotto earlier welcomed Marcos' pronouncement that the bicameral conference committee hearings to discuss the national budget will be open to the public. -- RF, GMA Integrated News