Senators open to transparent bicam budget deliberations

Senators open to transparent bicam budget deliberations | Daily Tribune

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

In a statement, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. noted that members of the media had 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 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 them with this responsibility.”

Last week, House Speaker 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.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has consistently advocated for opening the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget to the public, or at the very least accessible to accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, and the media.

“One of the 10 priority bills that I will file starting 30 June is a bill to ensure transparency in the bicam deliberations on the national budget bill — a 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 opening the bicam proceedings to public scrutiny is “one of the best suggestions” she has heard in a long time.

Hontiveros expressed optimism the reform would move forward in the 20th Congress, especially with Speaker Romualdez backing it.

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 my concerns on the lack of transparency in the approval of the bicam report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill,” Marcos said.

She recalled 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, 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 the new Congress will take a more transparent and fairer approach in scrutinizing the proposed 2026 national budget.

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