Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget will proceed from Dec. 12 to 14, confirming that senators and House members will work straight through the weekend to finish the negotiations on time.

In a series of exchanges with reporters in the Senate press Viber group, Sotto clarified that the three-day timetable includes Saturday and Sunday, noting that this was the agreement reached during earlier discussions.

“Yes. ’Yun ang usapan kanina. Work on weekend (Yes. That was the agreement earlier. We will work on the weekend),” Sotto told reporters who sought clarification on whether the bicam would proceed beyond regular working days.

Sotto added that this marks the first time the budget bicameral conference committee would have no weekend break, a decision aimed at ensuring the spending bill is completed, printed and ratified before Congress adjourns on Dec. 23.

He said the extended schedule is necessary because lawmakers intend to ratify the enrolled bill itself, rather than a summary of the bicam report, which requires additional time for printing and verification.

Sotto earlier assured the press that the Senate would allow a media gallery and livestreaming of the proceedings, with instructions to finalize arrangements ahead of the committee’s opening on Thursday. (PNA)