Manila: The Senate majority on Thursday announced that the 2026 General Appropriations Act represents a 'new normal' for transparency in the budget process, allowing for public scrutiny at every stage, including committee hearings, plenary debates, and bicameral conference committee deliberations.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate majority emphasized that this shift allows the public to track the evolution of budget proposals into final allocations through livestreamed and archived proceedings. This initiative aims to make the budget process more accessible and verifiable in real time.
The bicameral conference committee concluded its discussions at 2:22 a.m. after extensive deliberations, underscoring that transparency is now a policy priority. The majority highlighted that no last-minute deals or amendments occurred without public oversight, with all changes recorded and supported by thorough documentation.
The Senate majority noted that this transparent approach has enhanced fiscal discipline, especially in reviewing major spending agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways. Lawmakers engaged in detailed scrutiny and rejected generic restorations without itemized re-evaluation, aiming to curb overpricing.
The bloc pledged to maintain livestreamed bicameral proceedings and ensure public access to budget documents in future cycles, reinforcing that a transparent budget process bolsters public confidence in both the figures and the proceedings.
The bicameral conference committee approved the PHP6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act. Education received PHP1.38 trillion, accounting for about 20 percent of the national budget, while the Department of Public Works and Highways was allocated PHP529.6 billion. The adjustments based on Construction Materials Price Data generated PHP20.7 billion in savings, which were redirected to PhilHealth (PHP16.5 billion) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (PHP4.25 billion).
The Senate majority includes Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson, Majority Leader Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri, and Senators Bam Aquino, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar.
