Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito announced on Tuesday that a motion to conduct national budget hearings on impeachment trial days will be raised, in order to finish the budget on time while proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are ongoing.

As budget deliberations are currently limited to Thursdays and Fridays—with the impeachment trial occupying Mondays through Wednesdays weekly—senators believe the current arrangement must be modified to allow for a comprehensive review of next year’s fund allocations.

“We’re trying to adjust. Kasi sabi nga ni Senate President (Sherwin) Gatchalian, hindi matatapos if we only have two days a week for the budget,” Ejercito told reporters.

The budget hearings are to proceed alongside the plenary impeachment proceedings as a separate process, the senator said.

“So later on, it will be proposed, the move in the plenary that budget hearings may continue, even during plenary. Special case, kasi ngayon lang nangyari na may budget hearings, but at the same time, impeachment,” he explained.

He recounted that the upper chamber of Congress had already managed to carry out an initial assessment for the 2027 budget through the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

“Initial assessment, ‘yung 2027 budget, nag-DBCC na tayo last week, which started our budget process formally. So natapos natin in one day ‘yung mga economic managers from DOF (Department of Finance), from DBM (Department of Budget and Management), and DEPDev (Department of Economy, Planning and Development), and then, this week, with the Ombudsman, COA (Commission on Audit), and then DOH (Department of Health),” Ejercito enumerated.

He said the budget will focus on fundamental concerns, such as health, education, food security, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

“Back to basics tayo, during the budget hearings, meaning kalusugan, edukasyon, pagkain, hanapbuhay, and of course, infrastructure. ‘Yun po ‘yung matagal ko nang sinusulong at tinutulak,” he announced.