There is nothing wrong in having the public – including the President – as observers in the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget as it will ensure transparency on the matter, incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Saturday afternoon.
Lacson also maintained that the development plans of local government units (LGUs) must be heard in the preparation of the national budget, and this can best be done through the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and not any one agency.
“Why prevent the President from being an observer? Ideally, any Filipino should be allowed to observe the bicameral deliberations. In my bill, I limited the observers to accredited non-government organizations and civil society groups so the venue will not be too crowded. But the bottom line is that someone will be there to observe and guard the proceedings,” Lacson, who earned a reputation as a watchdog of the budget, said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.
“I am in favor of the President and his Cabinet being there as observers – along with accredited NGOs and CSOs, and even the media,” he added.
In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Pag-Obserba ng Publiko, Kabilang ang Pangulo, sa Budget Bicam Deliberations Kailangan para Tiyakin ang Transparency
Lacson said he does not see any problem with the President being there so long as he does not participate in the deliberation. If he does, there will be an encroachment into the functions of the legislative, he said.
He noted it is during the bicameral proceedings, which are often closed to the public, that deals for insertions are made.
It was during the bicam for the 2025 budget that P26 billion for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) was inserted even if it was neither in the House or Senate version of the budget measure. This was after the leaderships of the two chambers agreed to divide the amount – P21 billion for the House and P5 billion for the Senate. “It is highly anomalous and inappropriate, even illegal,” Lacson said.
Lacson said he intends to refile his bill allowing the public, including CSOs, NGOs and the media, to observe the bicameral deliberations on the budget to ensure transparency.
Meanwhile, Lacson maintained that the development plans of LGUs must be heard in the preparation of the budget, and this can best be done through the DBCC and not any one agency like the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DepDev), formerly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
He said it is important that the LGUs’ development plans coursed through the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) be considered – and this is being done through the DBCC, which covers the DepDev and other agencies like the Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management.
“This should be a collaborative effort, and not the effort of one department,” he said.
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Ping Lacson: Pag-Obserba ng Publiko, Kabilang ang Pangulo, sa Budget Bicam Deliberations Kailangan para Tiyakin ang Transparency
Walang mali sa pagsama sa publiko, kabilang ang Pangulo, bilang observer sa bicameral conference committee deliberations para sa pambansang budget dahil matitiyak dito ang transparency, ayon kay incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson Sabado ng hapon.
Iginiit din ni Lacson na ang development plans ng mga local government unit (LGU) ay dapat ikonsidera sa paghahanda ng pambansang budget, at magagawa ito sa pamamagitan ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) at hindi iisang ahensya lang.
“Bakit mo pagbabawalan ang Presidente? Dapat maski sinong Pilipino. Ang bill ko kasi, accredited NGOs and CSOs para hindi naman sobrang dami, para limit mo ang nandoon, pero at least may nakabantay. Walang bulungan,” ani Lacson, na nakilala bilang tagabantay ng kaban ng bayan, sa panayam sa DWIZ radio.
“Kaya sang-ayon ako na kung gusto mag-observe ng Pangulo isama ang member ng Cabinet niya, mag-observe sila. Di lang sila. Pati ang accredited NGOs and CSOs, pati media dapat nandoon na,” dagdag niya.
Ani Lacson, wala siyang nakikitang problema kung observer ang Pangulo, basta hindi siya lalahok sa deliberasyon. Kung lalahok siya, dito magkakaroon ng panghihimasok sa trabaho ng lehislatura.
Sa bicameral proceedings na sarado sa publiko nagkakaroon ng mga bulungan para sa insertion at ibang kwestyonableng item sa budget, ani Lacson.
Ani Lacson, nangyari sa bicam para sa 2025 budget na ang P26 bilyon para sa Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) ang nasingit kahit wala ito sa bersyon ng Senado o Kamara para sa budget measure. Ito ay matapos pinaghatian ang P26 bilyon – P21 bilyon para sa Kamara at P5 bilyon para sa Senado. “It is highly anomalous and inappropriate, even illegal,” giit ni Lacson.
Balak ni Lacson na ihain muli ang panukalang batas niya na papayagan ang publiko, kabilang ang civil society groups, non-government organization, at ang media, na maging observer sa bicameral deliberations sa budget, para tiyakin ang transparency.
Samantala, iginiit ni Lacson na dapat makonsidera ang development plan ng mga LGU sa paghanda ng budget, at magagawa ito sa DBCC sa halip na iisang ahensya lang tulad ng Department of Economic Planning and Development (DepDev), na dating National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Aniya, mahalaga na marinig ang mga LGU na idinaan ang development plans nila sa Regional Development Councils (RDCs), at ito ay nagagawa sa DBCC, na saklaw ang DepDev at ibang ahensya tulad ng Department of Finance at Department of Budget and Management.
“Siyempre dapat tulong-tulong. Di kaya ng isang departamento lang,” ani Lacson.
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