House leaders representing the five major political parties backed public disclosure of district allocations in the proposed 2027 national budget.
House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson and Bataan 2nd District Representative Abet Garcia said at the briefing that the House had opened its budget process to public scrutiny through livestreamed hearings, a public budget portal and a formal review of amendments.
Appropriations Vice Chairperson and Camarines Sur 4th District Representative Arnie Fuentebella said the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) was likewise prepared to disclose what was allocated to each district.
“So, regarding that question—NPC, we have no problem in divulging kung ano na nakalaan sa ating mga budget sa kanya-kanyang district,” Fuentebella said.
House Committee on Visayas Development Vice Chairperson and Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Janice Degamo said Lakas-CMD shared that position.
“Every member of the party is open to show the budget and for the reason that walang tinatago ang mga kasama natin in the party.”
“The same is true for the Lakas Party. Every member of the party is open to show the budget and for the reason that walang tinatago ang mga kasama natin in the party,” Degamo said.
Food Security Committee Vice Chairperson and Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Jose Manuel “JM” Lagdameo said the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas likewise supported disclosure.
“On behalf of PFP, we share the same sentiment as Hon. Fuentebella and Hon. Degamo. For the point of transparency for our budget and the budget process, we’re okay to have it open,” Lagdameo said.
Appropriations Vice Chairperson and Surigao del Sur 1st District Representative Romeo Salazar Momo Sr. said the Nacionalista Party had no objection to disclosure. Momo said allocations vary with the needs of each district, including its size, river systems, and exposure to typhoons and earthquakes.
“The distribution of the budget depends on the needs of each district. Kaya nga kanina sinabi ni Cong Abet na iba-iba ang characteristic ng bawat distrito,” Momo said.
Another Appropriations Vice Chairperson, FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Representative Brian Poe, spoke on behalf of party-list solons and explained how party-list representatives seek funding for the sectors they serve.
According to Poe, “some prioritize health, others prioritize agriculture, others prioritize education and so on and so forth. So unlike a district where you have a set budget for a district, it’s more of requests that are submitted to agencies from party lists for their sectors or the groups they represent.”
“So in terms of that, depending on who you’re speaking to in the party list, I’m sure they’re all more than amenable to discussing that with you,” the legislator added.
“The House is preparing a transparency platform on the website that would show each lawmaker’s projects, their locations, allocations, and completion status.”
In his address at the resumption of session, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III announced that the House is preparing a transparency platform on its website that would show each lawmaker’s projects, their locations, allocations, and completion status.
Dy said the platform would be ready for public use in the coming days and that bicameral budget deliberations would again be livestreamed.
