Budget transparency, accountability measure reaches Senate plenary

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito called for extending transparency to bicameral conference committee meetings, particularly on the national budget. (File Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Senate on Tuesday opened plenary debates on a concurrent resolution aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the preparation, authorization, and implementation of the national budget.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, sponsored by Finance Committee chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, seeks to institutionalize public access to key budget documents at every stage of the budget process, and to create platforms for citizen feedback.

At present, only the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the enacted General Appropriations Act (GAA) are readily available online.

The measure would require the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to also publish committee reports, bicameral conference committee reports, transcripts of budget briefings and public hearings, technical working group records, and the versions of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) passed on third reading by each chamber.

The DBM would also be urged to post Budget Preparation (BP) Form 201 submitted by agencies.

Gatchalian said making these records accessible in timely, comprehensive, and machine-readable formats will allow the public to monitor how funds are allocated and amended before final approval.

“This will usher in a golden age of transparency and accountability, empowering the public to understand the budget, increase their participation, and root the system of accountability in the people themselves,” he said.

The proposal also mandates creating online portals for citizens to submit analyses, observations, and recommendations on the budget.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito called for extending transparency to bicameral conference committee meetings, particularly on the national budget.

“Kung wala tayong ginagawang mali, wala tayong dapat itago sa publiko (If we are not doing anything wrong, we have nothing to hide from the public),” he said.

Other senators, including Jinggoy Estrada, Ronald Dela Rosa, Loren Legarda, Erwin Tulfo, Bam Aquino, and Pia Cayetano, backed the measure, noting its potential to curb fund misuse, encourage greater public participation, and ensure government spending yields measurable results.