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Palace cites need for transparency in PH government transactions

A Senate panel meets with counterparts from the House of Representatives in the Bicameral Conference Committee regarding the General Appropriations Act of 2024 in this file image taken on Thursday, November 30, 2023. Courtesy: Senate PRIB Malacañang highlighted Tuesday the need for transparency in government transactions, including budget processes. During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the call of some lawmakers to open bicameral deliberations to the public as the budget season comes near. Branded by some lawmakers as the #OpenBicam campaign, the call has been endorsed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. "We respect the independence of the Congress pero kapag po ang pinag-usapan ay pagsasapubliko ng anumang transaksiyon patungkol sa gobyerno mas maganda po talaga na maging transparent ang bawat galaw ng taumbayan (We respect the independence of Congress but if we're talking about making information on government transactions available to the public, it's better to have transparency with every move)," Castro said. The House of Representatives has said the proposal seeks to allow Filipinos to watch in real time how lawmakers reconcile the national budget between the two chambers of Congress. The bicameral conference committee on the national budget conducts final deliberations among lawmakers after the Senate and the House pass separate versions of the General Appropriations Bill. Romualdez has said he would push for the institutionalization of the #OpenBicam campaign. "Transparency and accountability must be the cornerstones of the budget process," Romualdez said in an earlier press release. "I support the move to make bicameral conference committee discussions open to the public. This is a crucial step in restoring public trust and ensuring that the national budget truly reflects the will and welfare of the people," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News