MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the House of Representatives does not need to recall its approved 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that declared key provisions of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 national budgets unconstitutional.
Gatchalian said the Senate could make the necessary corrections during the budget consolidation process, arguing that only a limited number of provisions in the proposed 2027 budget may be affected by the court’s decision.
“Not necessary naman dahil papasok na kami sa consolidation ng budget dito so we can do the correction ourselves. So that hindi madedelay yung budget process, dito na namin i-correct,” Gatchalian said in an interview at the Senate.
He added that the ruling was unlikely to require major changes to the proposed 2027 budget.
“Looking at the Supreme Court decision, on the 2026 budget, konti lang naman maapektuhan. So, hindi ko nakikita ang malaking correction gagawin dito sa 2027,” he said.
LACSON WARNS AGAINST POSSIBLE REENACTED BUDGET
The Makabayan bloc had called on the House to recall its approved budget bill, arguing that some provisions declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court could also be included in the proposed 2027 national budget.
Lacson advised lawmakers raising these concerns to discuss them with their colleagues in the House, noting that the Senate and House would still reconcile differences between their respective budget versions through a bicameral conference committee after the Senate passes its own proposal.
“They should address their concerns doon sa kanilang colleagues sa House. Because their colleagues will be the members of the bicam after the Senate passes our version,” Lacson said.
He also warned that recalling the House-approved GAB could disrupt the budget process and potentially result in a reenacted budget, in which the previous year’s budget would continue to be implemented.
“Ang effect niyan, magrereenact tayo, which is worse… Hindi yun ang solusyon. The solution is for the Senate to really scrutinize and cut all the fat sa pinadalang GAB ng House,” Lacson said.
LACSON CALLS FOR CLOSER SENATE SCRUTINY
Lacson explained that a reenacted budget would lack the detailed, itemized allocations lawmakers seek to establish for the coming fiscal year, potentially limiting the government’s ability to implement new programs and projects as specifically planned for 2027.
“Lahat ng 2026 naka-float. Walang itemized na provision, meaning the whole—pagka-reenacted budget is lumpsum lahat yon. Mas masama yon,” he warned.
The senators’ remarks indicate that the Senate intends to scrutinize the House-approved budget and address any provisions requiring changes during its deliberations, rather than sending the bill back to the House for recall.
The General Appropriations Bill sets out the proposed national government spending for a fiscal year. Once approved by Congress and signed into law by the President, it becomes the General Appropriations Act.
When the two chambers approve different versions of the budget, a bicameral conference committee reconciles the disagreements before the measure is submitted for final approval. If a new appropriations law is not enacted before the start of the fiscal year, the previous year’s appropriations may be reenacted under the applicable constitutional framework.
The Supreme Court ruling cited in the debate has prompted lawmakers to examine whether provisions in the proposed 2027 budget require adjustments to comply with the Constitution and the court’s decision.