Civil society groups are calling for stronger participatory budget planning to bridge the gap between national development goals and actual public spending, warning that limited citizen involvement reduces the effectiveness of government investments.
The appeal was led by People’s Budget Coalition member and WeSolve Foundation president Kenneth Abante during a recent knowledge-sharing forum hosted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
Abante said involving ordinary citizens is essential because they directly experience the impact of every budget decision.
Public participation can align budget allocations with approved development plans and measurable outcomes throughout the entire cycle, according to Abante.
He cited flood control as a primary example of misalignment, noting the government allocated P1.7 trillion for such projects over the last decade. By comparison, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Babes Singson estimated that comprehensive master plans for 18 major river basins would have cost only P800 billion to P900 billion.
Abante said integrating long-term planning and citizen input could have significantly improved the impact of these billions.
He also stressed that participation requires transparency, particularly during the legislative stage. He argued that simply livestreaming proceedings is insufficient and called for documented minutes and open plenary sessions for all amendments.
Greater transparency, including searchable databases of contractors and beneficial owners, could prevent firms with limited capacity from winning multibillion-peso contracts, Abante said.
The People’s Budget Coalition demonstrated the potential of engagement in 2021 when it proposed realigning P1.2 trillion toward health and social protection during the pandemic.
Working with reform-oriented legislators, the group helped secure P69 billion in realignments in the 2022 General Appropriations Act.
While national reforms remain a challenge, Abante cited Naga City as a successful proof of concept. Through a 2017 ordinance, the city institutionalized participatory budgeting. In 2023, workshops involving 10 sectors resulted in P45 million out of P55 million in citizen-led proposals being incorporated into the city’s investment program.
Expanding these reforms requires institutional support, accessible data and clear feedback mechanisms. Abante noted that tools like the Budget Natin guidebook help communities navigate technical documents to develop viable proposals.
He said that empowering citizens and researchers can ensure public resources are used more effectively to combat poverty and corruption.
