To make deliberations for the 2026 budget more transparent, House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson and Nueva Ecija Representative Mikaela Angela Suansing said that she will call for the abolition of the so-called small committee that deliberates budget amendments.
Suansing is instead proposing the introduction of a “Subcommittee for Budget Amendments Review (through which) we will be able to streamline and facilitate the proposals for amendments at the same time magiging mas panatag na po yung ating mga kababayan na hindi lamang po kung ano-anong amendment o kung ano-anong panukala tinatanggap o pinapasok sa budget.”
The veteran legislator is also proposing that civil society organizations, people’s organizations and non-government organizations be given a platform where they can give suggestions and raise questions about the budget.
“Papatunayan po natin sa ating mga kababayan na walang tinatago ang Kongreso pagdating sa budget.”
“Layon po nating buksan ang tabing sa usaping budget. Papatunayan po natin sa ating mga kababayan na walang tinatago ang Kongreso pagdating sa budget,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
She also supported opening the bicameral conference committee proceedings to the public.
Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre, chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said the goal of these proposed reforms is ensure that the entire budget process is not just a technical deliberation but a national conversation.
“Ito po ay budget ng bayan, hindi po budget ng Kongreso, hindi po budget ng pamahalaan (kundi) budget ng bawat Pilipino.”
“Ito po ay budget ng bayan, hindi po budget ng Kongreso, hindi po budget ng pamahalaan (kundi) budget ng bawat Pilipino. Nais namin na sa budget ng bayan ay maipakita hindi lamang ang pangangailangan ng iilan kundi ang pangangailangan ng nakakarami,” Acidre said, adding that he supports the proposed reforms of Suansing.
Suansing gave her personal assurance that the implementation of the proposed reforms will lead to the formulation of budgets in the future that are even more attuned to the requirements of national development.
“We want the fiscal year 2026 national budget and future budgets to be responsive to the needs of the Filipino people at napopondohan po natin yung mahahalagang proyekto at adhikain tulad ng binanggit ng ating mahal na Pangulo noong SONA, lalo na patungkol sa human capital development – edukasyon, kalusugan at kabuhayan,” she concluded.
