The Senate of the Philippines’ proposed P9.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 has been approved for submission to the plenary after being presented before the Committee on Finance (Subcommittee A) on Monday.

Senate Secretary Renato N. Bantug led the presentation of the chamber’s proposed financial plan, originally pegged at P9.7 billion.

However, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reduced the proposal by 21.33 percent, equivalent to roughly P2.1 billion, resulting in a final allocation of P7.76 billion for next year.

The hearing was presided over by Senator Win Gatchalian, who chairs the Finance Subcommittee A.

Following the deliberations, the committee approved the proposed Senate budget for plenary consideration, marking a key step in the chamber’s internal budget process ahead of the 2026 national budget deliberations.

The approved budget will cover the legislative chamber’s operational and administrative requirements, including support for lawmaking, oversight functions, and institutional modernization programs.

The Senate’s budget will next be deliberated in the plenary before being consolidated into the General Appropriations Bill for 2026.