Senators Gatchalian, Lacson refuse to recall House-approved 2027 budget

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator Panfilo Lacson have rejected demands for the recall of the House of Representatives' approved 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). The senators argue the Senate can correct the provisions that may be affected by a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Gatchalian said recalling the House-approved measure would be unnecessary. He said only a small number of provisions in the 2027 proposed budget may be affected by the High Court’s decision declaring unconstitutional certain provisions of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 national budgets.

“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.

“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 added.

The Makabayan bloc, however, has urged the House to recall its approved budget, arguing that the proposed 2027 spending plan contains provisions similar to those struck down by the Supreme Court.

Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Accounts, said lawmakers in the House questioning the provisions should raise the matter with their colleagues, as both chambers would still reconcile their respective budget versions through the bicameral conference committee after the Senate passes its own measure.

He warned that recalling the House-approved GAB could delay the budget process and lead to a reenacted budget, which would carry over the previous year’s appropriations instead of providing a new, itemized spending plan 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.