THE SENATE has passed on second reading the P6.7-trillion 2026 national budget, carrying a net P68.667-billion reduction in new appropriations. Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Joel Villanueva voted against the bill.

The adjustments reflect P362.86 billion in increases and P431.53 billion in cuts across agencies. Under the Senate version, total new appropriations stand at P4.577 trillion, down from the House’s P4.646 trillion.

Several offices received budget increases, including the Congress of the Philippines, the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Department of Finance, and various other departments and constitutional bodies.

Reductions were made in the Special Purpose Funds, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and others.

Unprogrammed appropriations were also reduced by P68.667 billion, lowering the total from P243.222 billion to P174.555 billion.

Senators were provided the summary of amendments before the vote, with full documents expected ahead of the final approval next week.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed that the budget includes funding for the salary increase of military and uniformed personnel, an initiative earlier announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Gatchalian outlined five key amendments to the budget, including restoring the five percent reduction in the Construction Materials Price Data of the DPWH, reducing foreign-assisted projects by P53 billion, adding a special provision for CMPD adjustments, and reinstating the 4Ps budget to its National Expenditure Program level of P11.17 billion.