Win Gatchalian: Senate aims to pass budget bill within 2026 amid impeachment trial

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The Senate is committed to pass the 2027 national budget bill before the end of the year despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and other scheduling concerns, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

Interviewed on GMA News' Unang Balita, Gatchalian also cited the Philippines' hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits from November 16 to 18 as a development that has affected the Senate's schedule.

"Talagang komplikado itong naging schedule sa budget pero target pa rin namin matapos ito bago mag-Bagong Taon," he said.

(This has been a really complicated budget schedule, but we still target to finish it before the New Year.)

Gatchalian said the impeachment proceedings have made the Senate's budget schedule a "moving target" because the number of trial days changes depending on the witnesses and the length of their testimonies.

The Senate also had to accommodate ASEAN activities that took up nearly four days.

Gatchalian said he and Senator JV Ejercito have been discussing the scheduling concerns almost every day.

Despite these challenges, Gatchalian said the Senate remains committed to completing the budget process before the year ends. — VDV, GMA News