Manila: The House of Representatives will implement a bold and comprehensive reform agenda aimed at transforming the national budget process into one that is transparent, inclusive, and fully aligned with the principles of democratic accountability.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a press conference on Monday, Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mika Suansing, chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, announced that the chamber is doing away with the long-standing practice of forming a ‘small committee’ to finalize institutional amendments after second reading approval of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
“This marks a major turning point. The so-called small committee — a mechanism that has long been mischaracterized and misunderstood — will be officially scrapped. We are replacing it with a process that unfolds in full view of the public,” Suansing said.
For decades, the small committee served as a post-second reading body to review budgetary adjustments requested by government agencies. But over time, she said it became a lightning rod for criticism, painted as a secretive enclave for last-minute insertions.
‘Institutional amendments include amendments that benefit the general public as a whole, like social services, health, education, allowances, and benefits of uniformed personnel, among others,’ Suansing said. ‘These proposed institutional amendments must be supported with the necessary documentation and shall be discussed openly during committee hearings.’
Effective immediately, she said all institutional amendments must be proposed, discussed, and approved in the plenary before the GAB passes second reading. Once the bill clears second reading, no further amendments will be entertained, aligning the budget process with how all other legislation is handled.
‘Wala nang tagong komite. Wala nang huling minuto. Bubuksan na natin ang tabing sa usaping badyet (No more secret committee. No more last-minute changes. We will now open the curtains on budgetary discussion). From now on, the people will witness the process in real time — because this is their budget,’ Suansing said.
In support of the new rule, the House will also consider adjustments to the budget calendar to ensure that members have enough time to thoroughly review and refine the budget during the plenary period before second reading. ‘We are committed to deliberating smarter, not just faster. Better budget scrutiny means better public service delivery,’ she said.
Suansing backed House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s proposal to open the bicameral conference committee meetings to the public, breaking long-held norms of closed-door negotiations between the House and Senate. ‘We support Speaker Romualdez’s call for open bicam sessions so that the public sees how final budget figures are decided,’ she said.
Another cornerstone of the Speaker’s reform program is the formal participation of civil society organizations and non-government actors as observers during all stages of the budget process — from agency presentations to plenary deliberations and bicameral meetings.
‘We are replacing archaic processes that placed budget power in the hands of a chosen few. From now on, we want everyone involved. The budget is the people’s money. They deserve to see how every peso is allocated, every program justified and every decision made,’ Suansing said.
She said the reforms, taken together, reflect a decisive response to mounting public pressure for transparency, fairness, and results in government spending. ‘While the budget has always been one of Congress’s most important responsibilities, it has also been one of the most misunderstood. Speaker Romualdez believes this is the right moment not just to respond, but to lead,’ she said.
‘This isn’t about optics. It’s about outcomes. These changes aren’t just procedural, they are political, moral, and constitutional commitments to restore faith in how public funds are handled. The House is opening its doors, lifting the curtain and bringing the people back to the center of the budget process where they rightfully belong.’
