Senate open to public access to bicam budget talks
The Senate welcomes public scrutiny and involvement in the budget process, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. says. Hana Bordey/GMA Integrated News/File photo
The Senate on Monday welcomed calls to increase transparency in the bicameral budget deliberations and open them to the public, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said.
This, as the Marcos administration's economic team set the state expenditure's budget for next year at P6.793 trillion—far slimmer than the total budget proposals received by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at P10.101 trillion.
The approved P6.793-trillion proposed budget for 2026 is 7.4% higher than the actual 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion.
Bantug emphasized that since the bicameral conference is a joint undertaking of the Senate and the House of Representatives, both chambers have a shared responsibility 'to ensure that the process is open and transparent, consistent with the constitutional precept that public office is a public trust.'
'Calls to increase transparency in the bicam are always welcome. The Senate is open to serious proposals that will enhance public access and understanding of the crafting of the national budget,' the Senate Secretary said in a statement.
Bantug also said that the Senate welcomes public scrutiny and involvement in the budget process.
'Our kababayan have every right to know how their money is spent, and their active participation helps ensure that their elected representatives remain responsive and accountable to the people who entrusted us with this responsibility,' he added.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which will become next year's General Appropriations Act (GAA), is targeted to be submitted to Congress 'two weeks after SONA (State of the Nation Address).'
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s fourth SONA —his annual address to the nation to a joint session of House of Representatives and Senate— is on July 28, 2025.
Under the Constitution, the proposed national budget for the following year must be submitted to Congress no later than 30 days after the SONA. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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