A lawmaker on Monday pushed for the passage of a bill that will institutionalize the people’s participation in preparing the national buget.
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the passage of his House Bill 1383 or “An Act Institutionalizing Citizens Participation in the Budget Process” was timely as the House of Representatives is scheduled to begin in August deliberations on the proposed P3.76-trillion national budget for next year.
Vargas’ bill is pending before the House committee on appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles.
Vargas, vice chair of the House appropriations committee, said it is about time to allow the people, especially the marginalized sector, to take an active part on how the budget should be appropriated and spent by the government for the public’s welfare.
Vargas added that many Filipinos, particularly the poor, are not given the chance to participate in public finance discussions; establish partnerships with government officials; and follow the cycle from policy proposal to approval, implementation to accountability.
He said local or even national government should be aware and appreciate the significance of peoples’ participation in budgeting.
‘To safeguard the democratic process in budget allocation and to guarantee the continuous growth of our nation, it is important that the reforms and best practices that the government has adopted and successful implemented be strengthened, Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought,” Vargas said.
Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the Duterte administration would submit the 2018 national budget during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte next week–which also marks the opening of the second regular session of the 17th Congress.
Vargas recalled that the government has initiated the practice in 2012 as part of its thrust to achieve sustained and inclusive growth while promoting good governance at the local level.
Under this process, he said citizens, civil society groups, and the local government units can work together to identify the urgent needs of the community, develop strategies, and identify projects that they believe will be beneficial for their own communities.
Once the citizens’ participation is allowed under the law, Vargas said civil society organizations (CSO) will be given more active roles in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of the national and local budgets.
“It shall institutionalize the participatory budget process in the identification and planning of programs and projects that will be funded by the General Appropriations Act.,” Vargas said.
The proposed measure provides that all CSO may be allowed to participate and play a significant role in the national as well as local annual budget deliberations, provided, that they undergo the mandatory accreditation process and comply with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) issued by Congress, concerned government agencies or local “sanggunians,” Vargas added.