MANILA, Dec. 14 -- Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said compromise is inherent in bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 national budget, but stressed that the integrity of the spending bill must remain non-negotiable.

Lacson said the Senate will fight to keep the budget "pork"-free even as lawmakers reconcile differing provisions of the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act in the bicameral conference.

"The bicam could be a matter of give-and-take but we must ensure the integrity of the budget and not allow self-interest. The interest of constituents is important but not the interest of kickbacks in infrastructure projects," Lacson said in a radio interview.

He said the Senate's stance is anc...