MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed full support for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to open the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget to the public.
Romualdez said he agrees with the President’s push for greater transparency in the budget process, especially amid recent controversies involving alleged insertions in the 2025 proposed national budget.
“It would be beneficial for the public to witness the discussions in the bicameral conference to avoid doubts and maintain trust in the government,” the Speaker said.
The 2025 national budget came under scrutiny after reports surfaced about billions of pesos in alleged budget insertions made by some lawmakers without proper explanation. The issue has sparked public concern over the integrity of the budget deliberations.
In response, both Malacañang and House leadership are now advocating for reforms to ensure the budget process remains transparent, accountable, and in line with public interest.
Romualdez added that making the bicameral meetings open to public observation would allow citizens to understand the rationale behind budget revisions and help prevent last-minute allocations that may not benefit the broader population.
Currently, bicameral conference committee meetings are held behind closed doors, where representatives from the Senate and the House reconcile differences in the proposed budget before submitting the final version to the President for approval.
