Manila: The House of Representatives, through its committee on appropriations, on Monday vowed to put in place safeguards against the misuse of public funds as it began scrutinizing the proposed PHP7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. At the opening of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing, committee chair and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mika Suansing stated that the House would subject the spending proposal to rigorous deliberations to ensure that taxpayers' money goes to programs that directly address the needs of Filipinos.

According to Philippines News Agency, Suansing emphasized the importance of accountability in handling public funds, highlighting that each peso in the budget stems from the hard-earned contributions of the Filipino people. She assured that Congress would conduct comprehensive discussions in the upcoming months to allocate the budget to programs that genuinely meet the nation's needs.

Suansing further committed to implementing sufficient safeguards to prevent budget abuse, ensuring that the 2027 budget is trustworthy. The deliberations for the 2027 budget will build upon reforms introduced during the 2026 budget process, which aimed to foster greater transparency and accountability.

Among the reforms were the abolition of the 'Small Committee' and the creation of the Budget Amendments Review Sub-committee (BARSc). This sub-committee held over 20 hours of deliberations, which were livestreamed, and presented approved amendments line by line. Additionally, committee hearings and plenary deliberations were also livestreamed, and the House expanded its engagement with civil society organizations, conducting what Suansing described as the first-ever People's Budget Review.

The amendment period was open to all House members, and approved amendments were incorporated before the General Appropriations Bill was approved on second reading. For the first time, the House opened bicameral conference committee proceedings to the public, livestreaming six days of deliberations and presenting amendments line by line.

Suansing highlighted these reforms as a reflection of Congress's commitment to transparency and accountability in budget discussions, ensuring that the allocation of taxes is clear and trustworthy to the Filipino people.