Major political parties in the House of Representatives on Monday expressed support for the full public disclosure of congressional district allocations under the proposed 2027 national budget, saying lawmakers should be ready to explain how funds are distributed and what projects they finance.
At a press conference, representatives of the National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Nacionalista Party (NP) backed greater transparency amid public scrutiny of congressional budget amendments.
Camarines Sur 4th District Rep. Arnie Fuentebella said the NPC had no objection to making information on projects and allocations in individual districts available to the public.
“Wala po kaming problema na ipakita kung ano ‘yung mga proyekto sa kanya-kanyang distrito (We have no objections to disclosing the projects in our respective districts),” Fuentebella said.
“We want to be very transparent. And makikita naman po talaga ito (this can really be seen).”
Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Janice Degamo said Lakas shared the same position, stressing that its members have nothing to conceal.
“Every member of the party is open to show the budget,” Degamo said. “Walang tinatago po ang mga kasama natin in the party (Our colleagues in the party have nothing to hide).”
Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. JM Lagdameo of the PFP also supported public access to district budget information, including through the House’s online budget portal.
“On behalf of PFP, we share the same sentiment as Honorable Fuentebella and Honorable Degamo for the point of transparency for our budget and the budget process,” Lagdameo said.
“We’re okay to have it open as well as the portal being available also as a method of or a means of transparency,” he added.
Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. said the Nacionalista Party will not object to disclosing district allocations.
“Wala hong problema ang Nacionalista Party (The Nacionalista Party has no problem) in terms of allocations,” Momo said.
He clarified, however, that transparency did not mean equal funding for all congressional districts, as their needs vary depending on population, geography and vulnerability to natural disasters.
“We believe that there is no equal allocation in each district. Wala hong equal talaga (It is not really equal),” Momo said. “May malalaking distrito, may mga distrito ang dinadaanan ng bagyo, may mga distrito maraming river systems, mayroon mga distrito na laging (Some districts are large, some lie directly in the path of typhoons, some have extensive river systems and others are highly) prone to both typhoons and earthquakes).”
Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia of the NUP also cited reforms introduced by the House to make budget documents and deliberations more accessible to the public.
Meanwhile, FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe said party-list lawmakers are willing to explain their funding requests, although their situations differ from that of district representatives.
“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,” he said.
He said party-list groups submit requests to government agencies based on the needs of the sectors they represent, including health, agriculture and education.
“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,” Poe said.
‘Earth-Shaking’ Reforms
The House of Representatives has introduced sweeping changes to the national budget process following controversies over alleged ghost infrastructure projects, with lawmakers pledging greater transparency and accountability in the proposed 2027 spending plan.
Garcia, senior vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the chamber, under the leadership of Speaker Faustino Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, had opened budget hearings to the public, strengthened private sector participation, and established an online portal to improve access to budget information.
“Let us acknowledge the fact that we have made earth-shaking reforms with regards to the budget,” he said.
Garcia said the reforms followed controversies involving alleged ghost projects and irregularities in public infrastructure spending last year.
He added that the House had replaced the controversial small committee with a new mechanism for reviewing budget amendments.
“These are new reforms that have never happened before. And we’re learning as we go along,” Garcia said.
He cited the House’s Sept. 8 consultation with civil society organizations, during which participants requested an online portal to make budget documents more accessible.
Garcia said the House responded by setting up the portal the following day.
He reiterated Dy’s commitment to preventing ghost projects from being included in the national budget.
“With regards to the ghost project, the Speaker said, ‘Not on my watch,’” Garcia said.
Garcia acknowledged that the reforms were not yet complete but stressed the House’s commitment to improving the budget process.
“Are we happy with the reforms? Are we complete with the reforms? Is it perfect already? No. Far from it,” Garcia said. “We welcome the critique of the media and our civil society, the Church. And we try to improve as we go along.”
The House-approved PHP7.2-trillion spending bill is now under Senate review before bicameral deliberations. (PNA)