MANILA – Several senators have described delaying the signing of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026 until the first week of January as a “prudent course of action,” emphasizing the need for exhaustive review of the voluminous document to prevent errors, corruption risks, or unresponsive allocations. The stance supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reported plan to sign the measure on January 5, 2026, resulting in a brief reenactment of the 2025 budget for the first few days of the new year.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed the timeline on December 24, 2025, noting the Executive requires adequate time to scrutinize the over 4,000-page enrolled bill after its expected ratification by Congress on December 29.
Senators’ Support for the Delay
- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Finance Committee Chair): “The prudent course of action is to move the signing to January 5 to ensure that every provision is thoroughly reviewed.” He acknowledged the tight schedule post-ratification leaves limited review window before New Year’s.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson: “A briefly reenacted 2025 budget would be preferable to rushing the passage… only to find it unresponsive to the needs of the times—or worse, prone to corruption.” Lacson highlighted unresolved issues, particularly in DPWH allocations amid the ongoing flood control scandal probe.
The bicameral conference committee wrapped up deliberations with safeguards like revised Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD) enforcement and special provisions to curb abuses. Senators view the short reenactment as a minor trade-off for accountability.
This approach avoids a prolonged reenactment while upholding checks and balances—ensuring the 2026 budget, once signed, is robust and corruption-resistant.
Timeline Snapshot:
| Milestone | Date/Details |
|---|---|
| Bicam Ratification | December 29, 2025 |
| Transmittal to Palace | Immediately after ratification |
| Presidential Signing | January 5, 2026 |
| Reenactment Period | January 1-4, 2026 (brief) |