THE House of Representatives minority bloc on Sunday backed a proposal to open bicameral conference meetings on the 2026 national budget to the public amid calls to make the deliberations more transparent.
This would deter “last-minute” fund insertions, “closed-door arrangements” and promote fiscal discipline, while also enabling greater public scrutiny, Party-list Rep. Marcelino C. Libanan said in a statement.
“Allowing the public to witness the bicameral discussions upholds the principle that citizens have the right to know how their money is being allocated,” the House minority leader said.
“It must be debated and finalized not behind closed doors, but in full view of the people whose lives will be most affected by it,” he added.
Most bicameral conference committee meetings, where senators and congressmen reconcile conflicting provisions of their bills, are normally held behind closed doors.
Budget proceedings last year were criticized after the bicameral panel increased unprogrammed funds fourfold to more than P500 billion, aside from blank line-items, fueling concerns that the budget was tweaked after Congress ratified it.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. later struck down P168 billion worth of projects under standby appropriations, noting that some line items were inconsistent with his government’s priorities.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez last week said he supports moves to open the budget’s bicameral committee proceedings to scrutiny, citing the need to restore public trust in the budget process.
“We fully support the Speaker’s initiative to shine a light on one of the most crucial and sensitive phases of the budget process,” Mr. Libanan said. “Once we open the door, let’s make sure it stays open.”
“A more transparent process elevates the quality of debate and negotiation and serves as a strong safeguard against the misuse of public funds,” he added.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee has proposed a P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, equivalent to 22% of economic output and 7.4% higher than this year’s budget.
The budget process for next year’s spending plan is expected to kick off in August after the Executive branch submits the budget proposal to the House, according to a Budget department briefer.
Under the 1987 Constitution, Malacañang must transmit the proposed budget within 30 days after the opening of the regular session of Congress, which begins on July 28.
The budget bill is initially heard by the House committee on appropriations for months before moving to plenary debates. To fast-track the process, the Senate finance committee concurrently starts budget hearings with agencies. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
