Tiangco demand peers’ explanation

The House of Representatives must justify why projects included in the proposed 2027 budget require funding, a lawmaker said, as transparency in the budgetary process was once again questioned.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco expressed his continued support for the persistent scrutiny of Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Senator JV Ejercito on the 2027 House General Appropriations Bill (HGAB), echoing the need to support billions worth of projects with appropriate documents.

The statement comes days after Ejercito said the upper chamber could remove as many as 6,271 projects included in the HGAB if the Department of Public Works and Highways failed to comply with the required requirements.

The new projects were not included in the National Expenditure Program’s proposed 11,420 projects for 2027.

JV move hailed

Tiangco welcomed the move, stressing that every project funded with public money had to be clearly mapped out.

“Every peso placed in the national budget has to have a clear reason, complete documents, and an accountable officer. Projects cannot simply be inserted without sufficient explanations,” he said.

The lawmaker was among the members of the lower chamber who voted against the approval of the HGAB, amid renewed concerns about transparency, particularly when it comes to the House’s own proposed budget.