Philippines Roundup: 2026 budget, historic SEA Games win, corruption arrests

Congress ends talk on $115 billion budget for 2026

Philippine lawmakers have concluded bicameral negotiations on the proposed P6.793 trillion ($115 billion) national budget for 2026 after months of delays. The House of Representatives and the Senate finalised the reconciled version at 2.22 a.m. on Thursday, following more than nine hours of deliberations. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the agreed budget was responsive to public needs and claimed it was free of corruption and overpriced items. Final discussions focused on funding for public works, unprogrammed appropriations and special-purpose funds. The budget will now move towards ratification by both chambers.

Senate to subpoena Meta over disinformation hearing absence

A Philippine Senate committee will issue a subpoena to Meta after the Facebook owner again failed to attend a hearing on proposed laws tackling online disinformation. Senator Rodante Marcoleta moved for compulsory attendance after Meta skipped Monday’s session on three bills covering false content, social media algorithms and organised “troll farms,” submitting only an excuse letter. Committee chair Robin Padilla criticised what he said was a pattern of absences since the 19th Congress. The move contrasted with TikTok, which sent a senior policy executive. Lawmakers say the measures form a coordinated response to the country’s escalating disinformation problem.

Filipinas claim historic SEA Games football gold 

The Philippines’ women’s national football team won its first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal after defeating defending champions Vietnam in a dramatic penalty shootout in Thailand. The final ended goalless after extra time, forcing penalties for the second consecutive match involving the Filipinas. Both teams converted their first five kicks before veteran Jackie Sawicki scored in sudden death. Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel then sealed the title by saving Vietnam’s final attempt. 

Philippine court orders arrests over $1.7 million ghost flood control project

A Philippine court has issued arrest warrants against contractor Sarah Discaya and nine others over a P96 million ($1.7 million) flood control project that allegedly never began in Davao Occidental, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. The suspects face graft and malversation charges linked to a project in Barangay Culaman, involving officials and staff of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ local engineering office. Malversation is a non-bailable offence, meaning those charged face immediate detention. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the cases with a regional court earlier this month, with authorities signalling further prosecutions.

Historic thoroughfare set for long-awaited facelift

The long-delayed rehabilitation of EDSA, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare and a key site of the 1986 “People Power” uprising, will begin on December 24, Philippine authorities said. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the P6 billion project will take eight months, far shorter than earlier estimates of up to two years. Initial works will run overnight during the holiday period, when traffic is expected to be lighter. The overhaul will use stone mastic asphalt, a more durable material designed to withstand heavy loads and harsh weather. No changes to traffic rules are planned.