Manila: The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards transparency by adopting a concurrent resolution for an open bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget. This move aims to provide the public with greater access to the budget deliberation process, ensuring that discussions on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) are conducted openly, either in person or via digital livestreaming.
According to Philippines News Agency, the House Concurrent Resolution No. 8 mandates that all deliberations of the conference committee on the GAB be accessible to the public. The resolution also requires the committee to present reconciled budget amounts agreed upon by its members and to make these figures available to the public. In addition, the minutes of the bicameral meetings will be open to public scrutiny.
In a statement, House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized that this unprecedented push for transparency is part of a broader effort within the institution that began with the 20th Congress. He credited procedural reforms introduced during the tenure of former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for paving the way for this openness, stating that these reforms aimed to make the budget process more transparent, participatory, and accessible.
Among the key changes supporting this transparency framework are the abolition of the 'small committee', which previously handled amendments privately, and opening bicam meetings for real-time public and media scrutiny. The reforms also include the formal inclusion of civil society groups, people's organizations, and private sector representatives in budget hearings, strengthened oversight mechanisms, and a focus on investments benefiting communities and essential public services. Adiong highlighted that these improvements foster a culture of openness and ensure citizens can see how national resources are allocated and used.
Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima expressed gratitude to the House leadership and her colleagues for adopting the resolution. She emphasized that this step is crucial for a more transparent national budget, allowing public access to bicam proceedings as a deterrent to past irregularities during the 2025 GAB deliberations. She called on everyone to remain vigilant in monitoring the bicam proceedings to protect public funds.
