House to consult budget watchdogs

Budget watchdogs said House lawmakers have asked to meet with them to review the lower chamber’s approved spending bill, amid growing scrutiny over public money allocation in next year’s proposed P7.2-trillion national budget.

“We’re getting more and more feedback from various House members, from some parties, from the minority … who all want to have a conversation with us,” AJ Montesa, coconvener of People’s Budget Coalition (PBC), told the Inquirer in a text message.

PBC has pushed for deeper scrutiny of House Bill No. 10858 after finding that more than P1 trillion in proposed funding resembled discretionary “pork” projects.

Budget watchdogs also highlighted a sharp funding spike for congressional leaders, headlined by President Marcos’ son, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III, whose Ilocos Norte district was earmarked P4.4 billion for public works projects.

PBC coconvener Ken Abante said Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno, who heads the National Unity Party, had also reached out for “a dialogue on the 2027 General Appropriations Bill.”

“In their invitation they said, ‘We would value the opportunity to hear your findings and opinions firsthand, explain issues important to you, and to have an open and constructive exchange on the budget,’” Abante said in a text message to the Inquirer.

‘What matters is conversation’

Abante said the PBC aims to voice its dismay over the House budget process and lawmakers’ earlier refusal to engage with watchdogs, while pushing back against Puno’s “ignorant” characterization of civic groups.

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The group also plans to press the House to release supporting documents for nearly 7,000 budget insertions totaling nearly P190 billion.

The lawmakers’ openness to dialogue indicates they are feeling the weight of public criticism over controversial budget allocations, said Ederson Tapia, a public administration professor at the University of Makati.

“There may be political considerations, of course, but I would not necessarily see those as incompatible with genuine efforts to improve the budget,” he said in a text message. “What matters is that the conversation is taking place.”