Opposition Senators Demand Transparency in 2026 Budget Deliberations
Manila — Opposition senators have vowed to end the practice of “hide and seek” in the 2026 budget deliberations. They insist that every senator must openly defend their institutional amendments to the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the need for openness, stating that amendments should be presented transparently either on the Senate floor or within committee hearings. “All of these now will have to be transparent. All the amendments have to be made by the senator on the floor. You should defend your institutional amendment,” he said during a Senate interview.
Making Senators Accountable for Budget Insertions
Officials reported that the minority bloc plans to compel each senator to stand up and justify their proposed changes. “We will ask each and every senator to stand up and defend their amendments, or at least claim that it’s their amendments…but they have to defend it on the floor or at least in the committee. So no more hiding, no more playing hide and seek, as they say,” Zubiri added.
This push for transparency comes amid ongoing investigations into controversies surrounding government flood control projects. Community members noted that lawmakers who introduce questionable budget insertions must be publicly identified, not just the contractors involved.
Corruption Starts With Budget Insertions, Not Contractors Alone
Zubiri recalled how certain projects absent from Malacañang’s original budget proposal suddenly appeared during bicameral conference committee deliberations. “So who included these projects in the bicam? Who are the senators and congressmen who sponsored them? We need to know, because corruption doesn’t end with the contractor—it starts with those who insert these items into the budget, right? We should be able to identify the proponents, and maybe it’s time to name them,” he said in Filipino.
He further asserted, “If we want to get rid of the corruption, we have to start naming names, cases should be filed, and the law should be implemented at its fullest.” Local leaders highlighted that naming responsible lawmakers could serve as a deterrent to future corrupt practices.
Admission of Past Mistakes in Budget Approval
However, Zubiri acknowledged that the entire Congress shares responsibility for approving the P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025 despite unresolved issues. These included alleged late budget insertions and the lack of subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
“We were at fault there because we approved it even though there were still blanks,” he admitted in Filipino. “We’re embarrassed, I’m embarrassed for that. Didn’t I actually walk out there?” he recalled, underscoring the need for reform in budget scrutiny.
Commitment to Prevent Repeat Issues
Officials confirmed that the newly formed minority group in the Senate is determined to prevent such lapses from recurring. They aim to enforce strict accountability measures and uphold transparency throughout the budget process moving forward.
For more news and updates on budget deliberations, visit Filipinokami.com.
