Senator Erwin Tulfo said on Tuesday that a number of congressmen were contesting the Senate’s decision to livestream the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations on the ₱6.793 trillion 2026 national budget.

Tulfo, the vice chairman for the Senate Committee on Finance, said Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III disclosed that some congressmen had complained about the Senate reducing their budgets, reported RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas.

“Ang problema, may mga kumo-kontra. Hindi dito sa amin (Senate), sa kabila sa House, ayaw nila dahil sabi nga ni Senator Sotto, mukhang nagkaroon sila ng diskusyunan kasi sinabi, ‘Ba’t pinakialaman,’ parang ganoon. ‘Bakit biglang slash, slash, slash,’” Tulfo told reporters.

Tulfo clarified that he was in favor of livestreaming the bicam proceedings, saying there should be nothing to hide in its process. The money being discussed was not the lawmakers’ but the public’s, he added, and it would address the Filipino people’s doubts and anger regarding the matter.

“Wala naman tayong tinatago, bakit ayaw, bakit ‘di kailangan. At tsaka number two, that’s the budget of everybody. Pera po natin lahat ‘yan, ‘di naman pera ng mga senador ‘yan o congressman kaya kung ako tatanungin: why not? Why do we have to hide? I-live natin, up to the last minute, last centavo. Para makita ng tao. Kasi puro press release lang ‘yun. Live, tapos hindi naman pala. Bakit hindi?” said Tulfo.

The Senate has appointed its members of the Bicam, which include:

• Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Chairman)

Majority:

• Sen. Mark Villar

• Sen. Pia Cayetano

• Sen. JV Ejercito

• Sen. Loren Legarda

• Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan

• Sen. Erwin Tulfo

• Sen. Camille Villar

Minority:

• Sen. Jinggoy Estrada

• Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa

• Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go

• Sen. Imelda “Imee” Marcos

On Tuesday, the 2026 national budget was approved on its third and final reading, with 17 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and no abstentions.