Senate minority bloc backs more transparency to end corruption
The House of Representatives said it will open to civil society observers and watchdogs the traditionally closed bicameral conference committee – a historic reform that would usher in a new era of transparency and public accountability in government budgeting.
“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. This reform will not only earn public trust but will also strengthen inclusive and participatory governance,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lambasted officials involved in substandard or even “ghost” flood-control and other infrastructure projects in his midterm State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday.
Romualdez said public watchdogs will be part of all stages of budget deliberation, from committee hearings to final plenary debates.
“We will allow the participation of watchdogs in all levels of budget deliberation — from committee hearings to plenary sessions,” Romualdez said.
“We’re not just going to open Congress for citizens to watch over the budget. All discussions can also be viewed on television and social media platforms,” he added.
At the Senate, the minority bloc on Tuesday filed a joint resolution calling for full transparency and accountability in the proceedings of the bicameral conference committee, particularly during the passage of national budget laws.
The bloc said “the most serious irregularity” in the 2025 budget “was the violation of the constitutionally mandated provision that education shall have the highest budgetary priority.”
Similar to the move in the House, minority members of the Senate proposed that all bicameral committee meetings be made open to the public, either in person or through digital livestreaming.
The resolution also requires the bicameral committee to produce a detailed matrix showing how differences between the House and Senate versions of bills are addressed. This matrix, the senators said, must be made available to the public as part of legislative transparency.
“Transparency and accountability must be the cornerstones of legislation,” said the Senate minority bloc composed of Senators Vicente Sotto III, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan also signed the resolution despite siding with the majority.
Senate President Francis Escudero, for his part, on Tuesday also rejected allegations he made multi-billion-peso insertions in the 2025 national budget.
“They first claimed that I made a P9 billion insertion for Sorsogon. Then P12 billion for Bulacan. Then it became P142 billion, which they later changed to P150 billion. So, what is the real figure?” Escudero said.
“The total proposed amendments to the 2025 budget amount to around P600 billion. There were transfers, removals, and additions. So, if it’s true the Senate added P150 billion, where is the remaining P500 billion? And why are they focusing on the smaller amount instead of the larger one?”
He denied making P150 billion in insertions, but said amending the budget before it is approved is not illegal.
“Just because we amend the budget, it’s immediately labeled an insertion or instantly illegal, instantly prohibited?… I’ve already been informed that it (accusation) will be used against me as part of a demolition job related to the upcoming Senate President election,” Escudero added.
As this developed, several lawmakers in the House likewise filed a joint resolution seeking to open the bicameral conference committee deliberations to the public for transparency.”
“Let’s institutionalize corruption control through a transparent bicam process where our people are involved,” Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno said.
For his part, Romualdez vowed a firm crackdown on inefficiency, fund wastage, and bureaucratic neglect, committing to more aggressive oversight by Congress.
“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,” Romualdez said.
He warned that budget allocations will no longer be automatically granted but must be performance-based.
“Departments must earn their budgets — not just request them,” he said.
He said the House will launch a comprehensive congressional review of infrastructure projects and fund implementation to identify systemic weaknesses and policy gaps.
He said the review will focus on “ghost projects, bloated contracts, chronic underspending, and abuse of discretion in fund realignment and procurement.”
“The House will take the lead in shaping stronger public accountability mechanisms — because good governance is our duty, not just our defense…We are not here to cover up. We are here to clean up,” the Speaker said.
As this developed, the Department of Budget and Management asked senators and representatives to follow the President’s directive on the National Expenditure Program to curb corruption and boost transparency and accountability within the government.
“We will strive to eliminate corruption, to have transparency and accountability in the government so that the economic uplift can truly be felt by our countrymen,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“We will make sure that what our budget provides reaches the people faster…We will be more transparent and we will be more accountable to our countrymen,” she added.
Meanwhile, two of the country’s largest business organizations, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), have thrown their full support behind the President’s firm stance against corruption and his call for inclusive economic growth.
Describing the speech as one of the most “compelling” in recent memory, PCCI President Consul Enunina Mangio lauded the President’s direct messaging, people-centered policies, and support for enterprise development.
“This time, it’s really different from previous SONAs. We feel the sincerity of the President. We fully support all the things that he said,” Mangio said.
“That alone should make a big dent on those who profit from bogus projects,” she added.
Likewise, FFCCCII President Victor Lim commended the President’s “exceptional candor” in acknowledging systemic governance flaws, especially his direct confrontation of entrenched political corruption, which he said has long undermined the country’s development.
“Corruption is not merely a moral failing, it is a root cause of poverty, social inequity, and economic stagnation. It results in massive wastage, chronic budget deficits, and unsustainable borrowing,” Lim said.
“We need strengthened institutions, unimpeded transparency, robust accountability mechanisms, and certainty of punishment. Only through such systemic reforms can we restore public trust and unlock inclusive, sustainable growth,” Lim added.
