Senate eyes simultaneous budget hearings, plenary sessions to make up for lost time

The Senate is looking at ways to speed up deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget as the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues to take up a significant portion of the chamber’s working hours.

Senate President Win Gatchalian said Thursday that lawmakers are considering making an exception to the chamber’s usual rules to allow the Senate Committee on Finance to hold budget hearings even while the plenary is conducting sessions.

“So we’re also going to adjust yung legislative time namin, papayagan namin ang Committee on Finance lang magkaroon ng hearing while plenary is in session,” Gatchalian said.

The proposed setup could start in the second week of September, although Gatchalian said he still has to discuss the arrangement with Finance Committee Chairperson Senator JV Ejercito.

The Senate usually holds committee hearings outside plenary hours. As the trial occupies much of the chamber’s schedule, Gatchalian said the Finance Committee has less time to scrutinize the proposed budget.

“For now, it’s Monday to Wednesday, so we will allow the Committee on Finance lang to conduct simultaneous hearings,” he said.

Under the proposal, Finance Committee members would continue examining the 2027 spending plan while the rest of the Senate is in plenary. The impeachment proceedings, meanwhile, would continue to be handled by the senator-judges.

Gatchalian said the Senate needs to find a way to accommodate both its impeachment duties and its responsibility to pass the national budget within the constitutional timetable.

He said the compressed schedule has raised concerns that Congress could fail to approve the 2027 budget before the end of the year.

“We’re worried baka di umabot by end of the year. Ayaw natin magka-reenacted budget," he said.

A reenacted budget would mean the government will operate under the previous year’s appropriations if Congress fails to pass the new national budget on time.

The Senate, in adjusting its legislative schedule, would make up for lost time due to the impeachment proceedings without delaying the budget process.