Lacson Scores Early Win in Demands for Full Transparency from Senators, House Members in Budget Amendments

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Wednesday scored an early win in his efforts to ensure transparency in the budget process, after he set two demands to which Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian agreed.

Following a “solution-finding discussion” Wednesday morning, Lacson said Gatchalian agreed to name the proponents of the amendments on the floor, to put it on record.

“We agreed that when any of our colleagues will seek clarification on particular insertions or realignments or amendments, then the chairman of the finance committee will divulge the identity or identities of the proponents of the amendments on the floor, to make it of record,” Lacson said in his manifestation during the discussion of amendments to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which aims to ensure transparency in deliberations for the 2026 budget.

In Filipino: Lacson, Iginiit ang Full Transparency Mula sa Mga Mambabatas sa mga Amyenda sa Badyet

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Lacson: Senate, House Resolutions Opening the Budget Process to the Public a Big Step vs Corruption

The resolutions by the Senate and House of Representatives to open the budget process to the public may not be foolproof but they are still a major step against “pork” in the national budget, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson welcomed the House’s adoption of House Resolution 94, which seeks to institutionalize the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) as non-voting observers in the budget deliberations of the House appropriations committee.

He added that with the signing by himself and fellow senators of a concurrent resolution to have a transparent budget process, it will be easier to identify the lawmakers who made insertions and realignments to the budget bill.

“What we signed yesterday is a concurrent resolution so both houses of Congress thankfully are united in making the budget process transparent all the way to the bicameral conference committee,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Resolusyon ng Senado at Kamara na Nagbubukas ng Budget Process sa Publiko, Malaking Hakbang Laban sa Katiwalian sa Budget

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