Senate Pushes Transparency in Bicameral Conference Process
MANILA — Senators have introduced a joint resolution to enhance transparency and accountability in the bicameral conference process for national budget deliberations. This move aims to ensure the public gains clear insight into how government funds are allocated and spent.
Joint Senate Resolution No. 1 was filed by a coalition of senators, including Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Ping Lacson, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, and Sen. Bam Aquino. These lawmakers voiced concerns about budget irregularities and distortions during the bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill.
Addressing Budget Irregularities and Education Priority
The senators highlighted that one of the most serious issues is the violation of the constitutional mandate that education must receive the highest budgetary priority. The joint resolution pointed out, “The most serious irregularity was the violation of the constitutionally mandated provision that education shall have the highest budgetary priority.”
Senator Lacson had previously criticized the 2025 budget, stressing that education was sidelined in the crafting of the General Appropriations Act. He cited Section 5, paragraph 5 of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which requires the government to prioritize education in budget allocations.
“Having vetoed only P26.065B from the P288B ‘congressional insertions,’ mostly in the bicameral conference, the budget for education is still not ‘assigned the highest budgetary priority’ contrary to Article XIV Sec. 5(5) of the 1987 Constitution,” Lacson explained.
Corruption and Political Insertions Harm Public Interests
The resolution also condemned corruption and harmful political insertions in legislation, warning that they result in the misuse of public funds. It stressed that such corruption harms the poor and underprivileged by depriving them of essential services like food security, decent housing, timely healthcare, quality education, and effective responses to climate change.
“Corruption deprives the poor and the underprivileged of food security, decent housing, timely healthcare, quality and accessible education, and effective responses to the climate emergency. It also slows down progress toward achieving goals,” the joint resolution stated.
Calls for Open Bicameral Conference Deliberations
In response, the senators urged that all bicameral conference committee sessions be open to the public, either in person or via digital livestream. This transparency would help restore trust and allow citizens to witness the decision-making process firsthand.
Additionally, the resolution demands the committee produce a detailed matrix comparing differences between the House and Senate versions of each bill, clarifying how each discrepancy was resolved. This step aims to eliminate confusion and provide clear records.
Finally, the senators called for comprehensive, timely minutes of all bicameral meetings to be documented and made publicly accessible. This would further promote openness and accountability in government budgeting.
For more news and updates on bicameral conference process, visit Filipinokami.com.
