House to open bicam budget debates to watchdogs, review irregular infra projects

Metro Manila, Philippines - The House of Representatives will open the bicameral conference committee’s budget deliberations to watchdogs and review anomalous infrastructure projects.

During the plenary session on Tuesday, July 29, Speaker Martin Romualdez said opening the bicameral conference committee is “historic” as the panel’s discussions have been held closed doors with the media watching.

The bicameral panel is tasked to reconcile the differing provisions of the Senate and House’s versions of the national budget bills.

Romualdez also said that watchdogs will be allowed in the budget deliberations from the committee level to the plenary.

“Hindi lang natin bubuksan ang Kongreso para sa mga mamamayan na magbabantay ng badyet. Mapapanood din ang lahat ng diskusyon sa telebisyon at mga social media platforms,” he said.

[Translation: We will not only open the Congress for watchdogs on the budget. The public can also watch the discussions on their televisions and on our social media platforms.]

Open bicam bills

Lawmakers have filed separate proposals calling for the opening of the bicameral conference committee.

In the Senate, a joint resolution – filed by Senators Vicente Sotto III, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino – was lodged in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability in the enactment of laws.

A House counterpart joint resolution was filed by Akbayan Reps. Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno, Dadah Ismula, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, Albay Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.

“All bicameral conference committee deliberations shall be open to the public, conducted in person or through digital livestreaming. The bicameral conference committee shall produce a matrix comparing the differences between the House of Representatives’ and the Senate’s versions of the bill, and how these differences were resolved,” the resolutions read.

Infra projects review

Meanwhile, the House will initiate a comprehensive review of anomalous infrastructure projects and fund implementation.

The inquiry will focus on ghost projects, bloated contracts, chronic underspending, and abuse of discretion in fund realignment and procurement.

The move came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his State of the Nation Address, said individuals colluded to bag government infrastructure contracts.

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“As Speaker, I share his concern. And I accept his challenge - not with defensiveness, but with determination,” said Romualdez.

He said the House will propose legislation that will mandate real-time public reporting of project progress and fund use; mandatory performance standards for contractors and agencies; and national infrastructure audit framework to avoid fund mismanagement.

Marcos lambasted those behind irregular projects that caused widespread flooding in a number of areas in the wake of consecutive tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon.