House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday outlined sweeping reforms to promote transparency and accountability in government spending, including plans to open the traditionally closed bicameral budget conference to civil society observers for the first time.

In a speech before the plenary session of the 20th Congress, Romualdez emphasized that the House of Representatives would lead efforts to reform how public funds are allocated, reviewed, and protected.

“We will seek to open the bicameral budget conference to civil society observers — a historic first. Because transparency is not just a value; it is a weapon against corruption,” he said. “This reform will not only earn public trust but will also strengthen inclusive and participatory governance.”

Romualdez said civil society groups and public watchdogs will be allowed to monitor the budget process from committee hearings to plenary debates.

“Hindi lang natin bubuksan ang Kongreso para sa mga mamamayan na magbabantay ng badyet, mapapanood din ang lahat ng diskusyon sa telebisyon at mga social media platforms,” he said.

(We will not just open Congress to the people who will guard the budget, all discussions could also be watched on television and social media platforms.)

He also announced stricter congressional oversight over government agencies, promising mid-year performance reviews and tighter scrutiny of fund utilization.

“We will strengthen our oversight functions and conduct mid-year performance reviews of agencies. Those who delay, hoard, or waste public funds will be called out,” he said, adding that funding will no longer be automatically granted. “Departments must earn their budgets — not just request them.”

The Speaker's remarks came in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call in his recent State of the Nation Address to confront persistent corruption in government institutions. Romualdez echoed the President’s frustration and pledged legislative support.

“We heard the President’s SONA. We take to heart his call — his frustration, even — about the lingering shadow of corruption in our institutions.”

As part of broader reforms, Romualdez announced the launch of a comprehensive congressional review of infrastructure spending. The initiative will examine “ghost projects, bloated contracts, chronic underspending, and abuse of discretion in fund realignment and procurement.”

He also committed to filing legislative proposals aimed at institutionalizing transparency, real-time monitoring, and stringent accountability standards across all government agencies and contractors.