To expand its budget transparency efforts this year, the Senate will push not only for continuous livestreaming of bicameral conference committee proceedings on the proposed 2027 national budget, but also for transcripts of the discussions, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson said the transcripts would help lawmakers and the public identify who initiated amendments to the budget bill, and track who pushed for realignments of its items.
In Filipino:Lacson: Senado, Itutulak ang Mas Malawak na Budget Transparency sa Pamamagitan ng Bicam Transcript, Livestreaming
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday renewed his push for reforms that would enhance transparency in government spending, alignment between the national government and local government units (LGUs), and flexibility for implementing projects, activities, and programs.
At the Senate finance committee’s hearing, Lacson raised major concerns that include the “disappearance” of the Unified Accounts Code Structure (UACS), the need to synchronize local development councils’ outputs with national budget calls, and limitations on unprogrammed appropriations.
Lacson, a watchdog of the national budget, pushed for the strict implementation of the UACS system used to track the projects for funding in the budget bill, noting that the UACS would disappear once the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is transformed into the House and Senate versions or authorization phase of the budget cycle – then reappear on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s website during implementation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
In Filipino:Lacson, Itinulak ang Reporma sa Badyet para sa Transparency, Pagkakaugnay, at Realistic na Pagpapatupad
Sen. Lacson stresses a point during bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2019 national budget, on Jan. 28, 2019.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is pushing for a P4.78-billion institutional amendment in the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 for an infantry division that will counter threats from armed groups like the Abu Sayyaf.
Lacson, who disclosed this at the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2019 budget on Monday, said the funding to mobilize the 11th Infantry Division was requested by the Department of National Defense (DND).
“It is an institutional amendment that I introduced, for the activation of an infantry division as requested by the DND,” he said.
In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– ‘pork’ in the 2019 budget
– acquittal of former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.
– possible extension of martial law in Mindanao
