Dy pushes for public access to budget records amid scrutiny of 2027 spending plan

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 06, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has expressed support for opening more government budget records to the public as questions mount over proposed spending under the ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

In a statement on Thursday, November 5, Dy said Filipinos should be able to see where public funds go, who proposed government projects, and how communities would benefit from them.

The House is open to releasing supporting project documents and making budget discussions easier for the public to follow, he said.

Dy also welcomed proposals to disclose congressional budget amendments, allow greater public scrutiny of government projects, and make bicameral conference committee meetings more transparent.

The bicameral committee is where representatives from the House and Senate reconcile differences between their versions of the national budget before submitting a final measure for approval.

Budget amendments under scrutiny

Dy’s remarks come as lawmakers face questions over changes to the proposed 2027 budget.

Budget watchdogs have raised concerns about spending allocations, including increases for local road projects and multipurpose buildings.

The House has already approved the proposed spending plan on third and final reading, while the Senate continues its deliberations.

Dy maintained that congressional amendments should not automatically be treated as evidence of corruption.

He said lawmakers have a responsibility to seek funding for projects that address the needs of their districts.

“Hindi lahat ng pagbabagong ginagawa ng Kongreso sa badyet ay mali,” Dy said.

He stressed that government projects must have complete documentation, serve a clear purpose, and provide real benefits to communities.

Public funds must address urgent needs

Dy also supported proposals to make government assistance available based on people’s needs rather than their political connections.

He identified food security, employment, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness as spending priorities.

The Speaker said the House is prepared to work with the Senate, executive agencies, and civil society organizations to strengthen public oversight of government funds.

He also called for closer examination of the budgets of government offices, including Congress itself.

Dy maintained that public accountability should apply across government institutions.

“Ang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan. Karapatan nilang malaman kung paano ito ginagastos,” he said.

The Speaker’s statement did not specify when the proposed transparency measures would be implemented or whether additional rules would be introduced to require wider disclosure of budget documents.