The Senate approved the proposed ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on its third and final reading, with 17 senators voting in favor and none dissenting or abstaining.

Under the budget as crafted by the Senate finance panel, funding for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was trimmed significantly — by about ₱55.91 billion — from the Lower-House version, part of efforts to address alleged corruption in flood-control and infrastructure spending.

Meanwhile, allocations for key social services gained ground: Education, health, and welfare sectors received boosted budgets to fund new classrooms, expanded universal health coverage, and social programs.

With Senate approval secured, the budget now moves to the bicameral conference committee, where senators and House representatives will reconcile differences between their versions before transmitting a final bill to the President for signing.