Metro Manila, Philippines – The third bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2026 national budget will resume at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, where lawmakers will tackle allocations for other agencies following a cancelled session due to a delay over issues in the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) funds.

The meeting on Sunday was canceled due to what Senate Finance Committee chairman Win Gatchalian called a “deadlock” over the DPWH budget as the agency appealed for the restoration of the P45-billion cut imposed by the upper chamber.

Senators said the reductions were based on DPWH data indicating overpricing of construction materials. The department submitted updated data earlier today.

Gatchalian said his office is still studying the new figures, which means the bicam meeting will proceed by tackling the budgets of other agencies.

House appropriations committee chairperson Mika Suansing said members of the House contingent will be at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) for the resumption of the bicam meeting to finalize the 2026 budget.

Suansing earlier expressed the House sentiment to push through with the session and follow the timeline despite the Senate’s decision to postpone.

Despite the latest delay, Gatchalian said Congress could still ratify the committee report by Dec. 22, provided the budget is finalized by Wednesday, Dec. 17.

He earlier said this flexibility is among the “buffers” built into the budget timeline, adding he remains confident President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget before yearend to avoid a reenacted budget.

A reenacted budget would extend the implementation of the 2025 General Appropriations Act into next year.