No need for House to recall 2027 budget bill, says Gatchalian, Lacson

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Panfilo Lacson said there is no need for the House of Representatives to recall its 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) as a response to the recent Supreme Court ruling, which declared unconstitutional key provisions of the last 2024 to 2026 national budgets.

Gatchalian shared that recalling the House GAB would not be necessary as only a few of its provisions may be covered by the SC 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.

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(Not necessary because we are entering the budget consolidation here so we can do the correction ourselves. So that the budget process will not be delayed, we will correct it here.)

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“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.”

(Looking at the Supreme Court decision, on the 2026 budget, it will only be slightly affected. So, I don’t see a major correction being made here in 2027.)

The Makabayan bloc called on the House of Representatives to recall its approved national budget, saying some provisions declared by the SC as unconstitutional can be “found in the [2027] proposed budget.

READ: House ‘haven’t discussed’ recalling 2027 budget bill – solon

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To this, Lacson advised that the lawmakers take the issue up with their fellow lawmakers as the House and the Senate will still reconcile its disagreeing provisions through a bicameral conference committee hearing.

“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 pointed out.

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(They should address their concerns there to their colleagues in the House. Because their colleagues will be the members of the bicam after the Senate passes its version.)

Lacson also cautioned that recalling the already approved House GAB may result in a reenacted budget, where no new programs and projects are itemized for 2027.

“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 during an interview at the Senate. 

(The effect of that is, we will reenact, which is worse… That is not the solution. The solution is for the Senate to really scrutinize and cut all the fat in the GAB that the House sent.)

Lacson explained that under a reenacted budget the listed allocations would all be lumpsums, with no detailed allocations.

“Lahat ng 2026 naka-float. Walang itemized na provision, meaning the whole– pagkareenacted budget is lumpsum lahat yon. Mas masama yon,” he warned.

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(All of 2026 is floating. There is no itemized provision, meaning the whole – under a reenacted budget all of that is lumpsum. That’s worse.) /gsg