MANILA, Philippines – August 3, 2025 — House Speaker Martin Romualdez, together with Tingog Partylist representatives, has formally filed a resolution seeking to institutionalize the participation of civil society groups as official non-voting observers in congressional budget hearings.
Under House Resolution No. 94, civil society organizations (CSOs) would be granted access to the budget deliberations of the House Committee on Appropriations. The measure aims to promote transparency, participatory governance, and greater public accountability in the allocation of government funds.
Romualdez emphasized the importance of ensuring that the national budgeting process reflects the voices of ordinary citizens from the very beginning of the deliberations. “We want a budgeting system that truly listens to the people,” he said.
If adopted, the resolution will take effect prior to the 2026 budget deliberations. CSOs will be accredited and allowed to attend all public hearings conducted by the Appropriations Committee and its sub-committees as non-voting participants.
The proposed guidelines for implementation will be developed by the Appropriations Panel in coordination with the House’s People’s Participation Panel. These guidelines will define the criteria for eligibility, accreditation procedures, and the scope of participation, consistent with the House’s internal rules.
The resolution cites Sections 15 and 16, Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which uphold the rights of citizens and their organizations to engage in decision-making processes and defend their interests.
Romualdez and Tingog representatives stressed that civil society groups bring critical knowledge from various sectors—including education, public health, social welfare, agriculture, environment, and local governance—which can help ensure that public spending is both responsive and grounded in the needs of communities.
