House Seeks Transparency in Budget Talks
MANILA — A resolution to open the bicameral conference committee meetings on the proposed budget to third-party observers has been filed by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the Tingog party-list. This move aims to boost transparency in the budget process and allow public scrutiny.
House Resolution No. 94, submitted on July 30, follows Romualdez’s earlier announcement that observers would be permitted during bicam discussions, alongside livestreams. “We want a budget process that truly listens to the people. It’s important that the people have a voice from the start of the budget deliberations so that we can truly respond to their needs,” Romualdez said in a mix of Filipino and English.
“That’s why we want to ensure that civil society has representatives during budget deliberations. This will ensure that the budget process is transparent and accountable to the people,” he added mostly in Filipino. Other co-authors include Tingog party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre.
Guidelines to Include Civil Society in Budget Deliberations
If HR No. 94 is approved, the House Committee on Appropriations, in coordination with the Committee on People’s Participation, will develop clear guidelines. These will determine eligibility, accreditation, and the extent of participation for public organizations in the bicam talks.
The resolution highlights how public groups can enrich budget discussions. “The active participation of stakeholders — including bona fide people’s organizations — can help ensure that the national budget is grounded in the realities, aspirations, and needs of the Filipino people,” it stated.
It further noted, “Many non-government organizations and people’s organizations have developed significant expertise in key sectors such as education, public health, agriculture, social welfare, the environment, and local development, and their insights can meaningfully enhance the quality and responsiveness of budget deliberations.”
Commitment to Transparency After Presidential Warning
Romualdez announced on Tuesday that upcoming bicam meetings on budget bills will be open to observers and livestreamed. This declaration followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm warning during his fourth State of the Nation Address. The President stressed he would not approve any budget misaligned with his administration’s programs, even if this means a reenacted budget.
Concerns over the budget process have grown amid allegations of corruption involving flood control project funds. Romualdez expressed shared frustration over these rumors and pledged stronger oversight by the House.
How the Budget Process Works
Currently, the executive branch drafts the National Expenditure Program (NEP) as the budget plan each fiscal year. The President approves this before it is submitted to Congress. The House Committee on Appropriations then reviews and may adjust it, provided changes remain within the President’s limits.
The modified bill becomes the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which the House approves before sending it to the Senate for possible amendments. A bicameral conference committee then reconciles differences between the House and Senate versions. Traditionally, only the opening of bicam meetings was open to the press; the rest were closed-door sessions.
Growing Support for Open Bicameral Meetings
Lawmakers have voiced support for public access to bicam meetings since June. On July 3, Acidre noted that most legislators, including Romualdez, welcomed observer participation.
Romualdez and Tingog are not the first to advocate for open bicam sessions. Earlier, members of the liberal progressive bloc introduced Joint Resolution No. 2 to allow public attendance or livestreaming of bicam budget deliberations.
Albay Rep. Krisel Lagman said this initiative responded directly to Marcos’ SONA remarks. “What we want is a more transparent discussion of the budget, and to make everyone involved in the process accountable,” she said.
For more news and updates on budget transparency, visit Filipinokami.com.
