Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday hailed the adoption of resolutions by both chambers of Congress to open the national budget process to public scrutiny.
“What we signed yesterday is a concurrent resolution, which means both Houses are finally united in making the budget process transparent all the way through to the bicam,” he said.
Lacson praised House Resolution 94, which authorizes civil society organizations to observe budget hearings in the House appropriations committee as non-voting participants.
He also cited the Senate’s adoption of Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which he and fellow senators signed to ensure transparency from initial discussions to the bicameral conference.
“At the very least, the proponents of amendments, also known as insertions and realignments, can now be traced, making it easier to identify those responsible when projects turn out to be flawed or imaginary,” the senator said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian echoed Lacson’s sentiments, noting that the Senate unanimously backed Concurrent Resolution No. 4.
“This will be the ‘golden age of transparency and accountability.’ As Finance Committee chairman, I will not allow any insertions in the budget. I will also make sure that we are very strict when it comes to confidential funds,” the lawmaker said.
Gatchaliab emphasized that the measure includes mandatory uploading of all budget documents on the websites of the Senate and House of Representatives.
This includes everything from agency proposals and committee hearings to bicameral discussions and the final General Appropriations Bill.
“Existing technological innovations now allow for centralized, accessible, and searchable platforms for budget data that are responsive to the principles of open government and digital governance,” Gatchalian assured.
“Such transparency reform will enable an informed public to push for accountability on the use of public funds,” he added.
