Senate open to public access in budget bicam talks

The Senate on Monday expressed openness to granting the public and media access to future bicameral budget deliberations, breaking decades of tradition where such high-stakes negotiations were held behind closed doors.

In a statement, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. noted that members of the media have long been invited to cover bicameral conference committee meetings on the General Appropriations Bill.

"The bicameral conference is a joint undertaking of the Senate and the House. Both chambers have a shared responsibility to ensure that the process is open and transparent, consistent with the constitutional precept that public office is a public trust," Bantug said.

"In line with this, the Senate has institutionalized transparency in the budget process," he added.

Bantug also underscored that the Senate is “open to serious proposals” aimed at improving public understanding and access.

"Calls to increase transparency in the bicam are always welcome... We likewise welcome public scrutiny and involvement in the budget process," he said.

He continued: "Our kababayan have every right to know how their money is spent, and their active participation helps ensure that their elected representatives remain responsive and accountable to the people who entrusted us with this responsibility."

Last week, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez voiced his support for proposals to open the bicameral committee proceedings on the national budget to public scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of restoring public trust in the budget process.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has consistently advocated for making the bicameral conference deliberations on the national budget open to the public—or at the very least, accessible to accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media.

“One of the 10 priority bills that I will file starting June 30 is a bill to ensure transparency in the bicam deliberations on the national budget bill—a proposed measure I have filed in past Congresses,” Lacson said.

“I hope there will be a counterpart bill in the House for my bill in the Senate,” he added.

Lacson also expressed hope that greater transparency will finally be realized in the 20th Congress.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the opening of the bicameral conference committee proceedings on the national budget to public scrutiny is “one of the best suggestions” she has heard in a long time.

Hontiveros then expressed optimism that the reform could move forward in the 20th Congress, especially with House Speaker Martin Romualdez openly backing efforts to make the budget process more transparent.

Senator Imee Marcos likewise welcomed the proposal, emphasizing her support for transparency in the budget process while maintaining that it should not undermine Congress' constitutional power over the national purse.

“As you may recall, I stood up in plenary to voice out my concerns on the lack of transparency in the approval of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill,” Marcos said.

Marcos recalled that she had previously asked the Senate leadership to inform members of the bicameral conference committee about the amendments made to the budget report before it was ratified in plenary.

“Earlier then, I requested the leadership of the Senate to inform the members of the Bicam of the amendments introduced in the report before its ratification in plenary; however, my request was never given due consideration,” she lamented.

Marcos expressed hope that the new Congress will take a more transparent and fair approach in scrutinizing the proposed 2026 national budget.

“I just hope that this new Congress will take it upon itself to scrutinize fairly the proposed 2026 budget and practice more transparency in its preparation,” Marcos said.