To prevent a repeat of the mangling of the national budget especially behind closed doors, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill institutionalizing the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the preparation of the national budget.
Lacson, in his bill, stressed anew the need for mechanisms that ensure that the entire budget process adheres to the principles of good governance, to assure Filipino taxpayers that their money is spent effectively and transparently.
“Specifically, this bill aims to institutionalize people’s participation in budget deliberations at various levels of government – national, provincial, municipal, and down to the barangay level. Without underestimating and undermining the capacities of elected representatives in crafting a budget that is needed by a particular locality, this bill gives full play to the people’s right to participate in all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making,” Lacson, who had filed similar bills in past Congresses, said in Senate Bill 32 or “An Act Institutionalizing the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Preparation and Authorization Process of the Annual National Budget, Providing Effective Mechanisms Therefor and for Other Purposes.”
“Furthermore, it institutionalizes people’s access to information with regard to how taxpayers’ money is being spent. In a way, this bill serves as our people’s safeguard against corruption through public oversight on how our taxes our being spent,” he added.
In Filipino: Panukalang Batas ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Pakikilahok ng Publiko sa Paghubog ng Badyet
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Also, the bill mandates official recordings and transcriptions for the bicameral conference committee meetings.
Lacson had lamented that pork and other insertions in the budget were being made behind closed doors, particularly during the bicameral conference committee where only a few are present.
“The bicameral conference committee meetings and all other meetings related or associated thereto shall be recorded and be made accessible immediately to promote transparency and to allow members of both Houses to easily determine how conflicting provisions in the proposed national budget were reconciled or resolved prior to the submission thereof for ratification by both Houses of Congress,” Lacson stressed in his bill.
Under the bill – dubbed the “People’s Participation in the National Budget Process Act” – CSO participation shall be deemed a part of the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.
All national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations shall be required to formulate and adopt guidelines outlining the mechanism for the accreditation and active participation of the CSOs in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.
The accredited CSOs, through their duly authorized representatives, shall be allowed to participate as resource persons in the budget hearings, but they must comply with the guidelines issued by both Houses of Congress.
Incentives and privileges for accredited CSOs include:
* Similar participation rights accorded to NGOs in the Local Development Councils;
* To receive notices and participate as resource person in hearings and meetings related to the budget;
* To be allowed to observe at the budget deliberations and at the bicameral conference;
* Access to copies of the budget proposals submitted by the NGAs or GOCCs to the DBM;
* To provide position papers to the DBM on the budget proposal of NGAs or GOCCs submitted pursuant to the budget call;
* To submit its own alternative or proposed budget or position paper;
* Access to issuances including policy orders, circulars and memoranda that are related to the budget;
* Access to the documents prepared by the DBM for submission to Congress by the President as a basis for the General Appropriations Bill;
* To present written proposals on projects and activities of the government entities whose budget is under deliberation; and
* Immediate access to stenographic notes and committee reports released by both Houses, including the bicameral conference committee report.
The NGA or GOCC shall post on their websites or other public posting areas, budget documents to which CSOs shall have access.
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Panukalang Batas ni Ping Lacson, Titiyakin ang Pakikilahok ng Publiko sa Paghubog ng Badyet
Para hindi maulit ang pagwasak sa pambansang gastusin, naghain si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ng panukalang batas para sa pakikilahok ng mga civil society organizations (CSOs) sa paghubog ng badyet.
Sa kanyang panukala, muling iginiit ni Lacson na kailangan ang mekanismong titiyak na susunod ang budget process sa prinsipyo ng mabuting pamamahala, at sisiguraduhing tama ang paggastos sa pera ng taumbayan.
“Specifically, this bill aims to institutionalize people’s participation in budget deliberations at various levels of government – national, provincial, municipal, and down to the barangay level. Without underestimating and undermining the capacities of elected representatives in crafting a budget that is needed by a particular locality, this bill gives full play to the people’s right to participate in all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making,” ani Lacson, na naghain ng katulad ng panukala sa nakaraang mga Kongreso, sa panukala niya.
“Furthermore, it institutionalizes people’s access to information with regard to how taxpayers’ money is being spent. In a way, this bill serves as our people’s safeguard against corruption through public oversight on how our taxes our being spent,” dagdag niya sa kanyang Senate Bill 32 o “An Act Institutionalizing the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Preparation and Authorization Process of the Annual National Budget, Providing Effective Mechanisms Therefor and for Other Purposes.”
Minamandato ng panukala ang opisyal na recording at transcription para sa mga bicameral conference committee meeting.
Ikinalungkot ni Lacson na ang pork barrel at ibang pagsingit sa budget ay palihim na ginagawa, lalo na sa bicameral conference committee kung saan iilan lang ang dumadalo.
“The bicameral conference committee meetings and all other meetings related or associated thereto shall be recorded and be made accessible immediately to promote transparency and to allow members of both Houses to easily determine how conflicting provisions in the proposed national budget were reconciled or resolved prior to the submission thereof for ratification by both Houses of Congress,” ani Lacson.
Sa ilalim ng panukala o ang “People’s Participation in the National Budget Process Act,” ituturing na bahagi ng paghubog ng pambansang budget ang pakikilahok ng mga civil society organization o CSO.
Lahat na national government agencies at government-owned and controlled corporations ay dapat magkaroon ng guidelines para sa accreditation at partisipasyon ng mga CSO sa paghubog ng budget.
Maaaring makilahok ang accredited CSO bilang resource persons sa budget hearings, nguni’t dapat silang sumunod sa guidelines ng Kongreso.
Kabilang sa mga insentibo para sa accredited NGO ang:
* Mga karapatan ng mga NGO sa Local Development Councils;
* Ang makatanggap ng notice para makilahok bilang resource person sa pagdinig ng budget;
* Ang pag-obserba sa mga budget deliberation at bicameral conference;
* Access sa kopya ng budget proposal ng mga NGA o GOCC;
* Ang pagbigay ng position paper sa DBM sa budget proposal ng NGA o GOCC;
* Ang pagbigay ng alternatibong budget o position paper;
* Access sa policy order, circular at memoranda sa budget;
* Access sa dokumento ng DBM na isusumite sa Kongreso bilang basehan ng General Appropriations Bill;
* Access sa stenographic notes at committee reports kabilang ang bicameral conference committee report.
Ilalathala ng mga NGA o GOCC sa website o public posting areas ang budget documents kung saan magkakaroon ng access ang mga CSO.
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