MANILA, Philippines — Most House lawmakers back calls to hold open bicameral conference committee meetings to boost transparency, a local leader said. Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre emphasized that this push for open bicam sessions aims to let the public witness discussions on the national budget and other key issues.
Acidre highlighted that even 19th Congress House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez supports the move, seeing no obstacle in allowing citizens to observe bicam proceedings. This broad support reflects a growing demand for accountability in how laws and budgets are finalized.
Understanding the Open Bicam Movement
Bicam meetings occur when the House and Senate need to reconcile differences in bills, such as the annual budget. While final bicam reports are public, the meetings themselves have traditionally been closed to only designated members of both chambers.
“Speaker Martin Romualdez was the first to announce his support for an open bicam. And I think it resonates well with many of the members of Congress,” Acidre remarked in a blend of Filipino and English. He added, “I fully support calls to make the bicameral conference committee process more transparent, accountable, and open… so our countrymen can better understand how our laws and policies are shaped.”
Expanding Open Bicam Beyond Budgets
Acidre noted the push for open bicam meetings should extend beyond budget matters to other legislative concerns handled jointly by the two chambers. “We stand united with Speaker Martin and others advocating for open bicam sessions—whether for the General Appropriations Act or other policies. This could be a game changer in legislative transparency and governance,” he said.
“Hopefully, this will pave the way for a more participatory legislative process,” Acidre added, urging public engagement.
Concerns Over Budget Amendments
The call for open bicam gained urgency after controversies surrounding changes made during the bicam review of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). The President and his Cabinet scrutinized numerous amendments, raising concerns about undisclosed insertions.
Allegations surfaced claiming the bicam report contained blank allocations for certain budget items—a point contested by some lawmakers and officials. A petition was even filed with the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the 2025 budget due to these alleged blanks.
However, some experts clarified that blank spaces were placeholders pending final calculations, prepared by technical staff from the Senate committee on finance. The President himself stated he could not locate any blank allocations in the approved budget.
Broader Support for Open Bicam Transparency
Beyond the House Speaker, several senators and groups have voiced support for opening bicam meetings to public scrutiny. Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III recently committed to pushing for open bicam hearings to ensure full transparency amid budget controversies.
Acidre suggested the quickest way to institutionalize open bicam sessions is through passing a House resolution. “Passing a resolution is the fastest initial step, although rules changes don’t happen overnight. We’re considering filing a resolution to formalize open bicam deliberations,” he explained.
He concluded, “This move could transform how legislation is crafted, making governance more transparent and inclusive.”
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