UPDATE: Senate finance chairman Sherwin Gatchalian confirms that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has submitted revised adjustment factors to correct overpricing concerns in the proposed 2026 budget. Gatchalian says they are currently studying the DPWH's submissions and will apply these to the projects listed in the spending plan once validated.

"Ang importante sa amin ay walang overpriced items at mai-implement ang mga projects para hindi maapektuhan ang ekonomiya natin," he said.

The bicameral conference committee meeting was delayed by three hours, with proceedings still yet to begin past 7 pm on Tuesday, December 16. The bicam was supposed to start at 4 pm.

Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate went into a closed-door meeting to discuss bicam’s positions on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ appeal to restore its slashed budget.

The bicam is delayed by four hours, which was supposed to start at 4 pm.

Where is Ombudsman Remulla? For the first time since he was appointed, I don't see him in the news or in any YouTube post or podcast Very strange.🤔

He's (or was) in Doha, Qatar for the United Nations Convention against Corruption. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/remulla-touts-response-flood-control-scandal-united-nations-anti-corruption-convention-cosp11/

At 1:15 am on Wednesday, the bicam wraps up the third day of the hearing. It will resume later at 2 pm.

Live now: 4th day of Bicam deliberations on 2026 budget. The bicam is now discussing the budget of the Department of Transportation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WHUuhL7Lp8

The bicam realligned the budget of Department of Transportation upon the agency’s request. DOTr asked the bicam to put additional P3.66 billion funding for the following: 

Operation and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit - 

LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project (common station) - P2 billion

Light Rail Transit Authority (systems and facilities improvement) - P1.04 billion

The funding was pulled in from the following: 

Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Phase I

North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System

MMSP and NSCR have been flagged over low budget utilization. 

Legarda slams last-minute budget appeals by government agencies

Senator Loren Legarda criticized the last-minute appeals made by various government agencies to the bicameral conference committee.

Legarda said agencies should have raised proposed changes during the House and Senate budget deliberations. For major projects, she added, these should have already been included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

She warned that accommodating late appeals could set a precedent for other government agencies.

I strongly agree with Senator Legarda. These last appeals are signs of incompetence. 😠

The bicam has been flooded with last-minute funding appeals from government agencies, moves that some lawmakers said undermine the budget process. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/bicameral-conference-committee-updates-2026-budget-december-17-2025/

Palace declares work in government offices suspended on December 29, 2025 and January 2, 2026. How about private companies and offices? Palace says left up to their discretion.

Police are investigating the death of former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, who was found unconscious near Bued River along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Wednesday night, December 18, and was later declared dead, authorities said. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/former-dpwh-undersecretary-catalina-cabral-dies/

DPWH mourns the death of former Undersecretary Maria Catalina
Cabral, who served the agency for over 40 years.

ICI asks law enforcement agencies to immediately secure and preserve Cathy Cabral’s documents, gadgets, and computers for possible digital forensics examination.

Contractor Sarah Discaya is expected to fly to Cebu on Friday afternoon, December 19, to face her malversation case over a P96-million ghost project in Davao Occidental.

LOOK: Several NBI officers are here at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 as Sarah Discaya is expected to fly to Cebu to face a malversation case.

Marcos named Torre as new MMDA General Manager
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III as MMDA General Manager, Malacañang confirmed.Torre replaces Procopio Lipana.

BREAKING: The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) secures a new freeze order covering 1,193 bank accounts of "major contractors" and an unnamed member of the House of Representatives with ties to supposed anomalous flood control projects.

The Court of Appeals found that the frozen assets were linked to possible violations of the country's anti-graft law.

So far, the appellate court has issued seven freeze orders covering some P20.3 billion in total assets.

National Unity Party chief Ronaldo Puno released a statement on the passing of Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop:

Sadly, he has really passed on. He had his successful kidney transplant last November 28. He was recovering well and he was up and about. We were excited for his imminent return to us. Then he had a heart attack last night.

Our hearts are broken. He was a friend for more than 25 years and a devoted, courageous, honest public servant.

The Congress and our country are the lesser for his loss.

Merry Christmas to all of you! @here

Another ICI commissioner resigns 

Independent Commission for Infrastructure Commissioner Rossana Fajardo resigned from her post. She confirmed this in a statement on Friday, December 26. 

“I believe that the investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities will now transition to other agencies, such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are better positioned to ensure accountability for contractors and government officials.” Fajardo said. @here

Here's the full statement

This commission indeed is in ICU! Good morning and a happy Christmas to everyone! https://www.rappler.com/voices/editorials/ici-in-icu-resignation-babes-singson-filipino-version/

The House and the Senate delegates to the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget sign the conference committee report this Sunday afternoon, December 28.

This marks the end of the bicam deliberations. Both chambers will separately ratify the proposed budget document on Monday, December 29, before President Marcos signs it in the first week of January.

"Ito pong budget na ito ay pinaghirapang buuuin ng Kongreso at Senado, at ginawa namin ang lahat para ito ay maging transparent, accountable," House appropriations chair Mika Suansing said.

"Ito po ay kauna-unahang gagawin natin na ang reconciled enrolled copy ay naimprenta na, naipakita na sa ating mga kasamahan para po makita rin nila ang ating pinag-usapan," Senate finance committee chair Win Gatchalian added. "Itong reconciled version ay ia-upload pagtapos ma-ratify bukas... sa ating transparency portals."

Last-minute appeals from government agencies — such as the DOTR, DPWH, and DA — plagued the bicam. It also approved unprogrammed funds worth P243 billion.