Manila: Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday reiterated his proposal to make public the proponents of all amendments, including insertions, in the budget process. Lacson emphasized that this approach would hold proponents accountable for flood control and other infrastructure projects that may be substandard or non-existent.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson stressed that without transparency in identifying the proponents of amendments, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which was discussed in plenary on Tuesday, would not fulfill its objective of ensuring transparency in the deliberations for the 2026 budget. In a post on X, he stated, “To truly ensure transparency in the national budget process, the identities of individual proponents of amendments aka insertions must also be made public, so they may be made answerable for substandard or ghost projects that they proposed in the crafting of the GAA (General Appropriations Act). Otherwise, Senate Concurrent Resolution no. 4 will defeat its purpose.”

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III also expressed support for Concurrent Joint Resolution No. 4, filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and supported by several sponsors, which aims to enhance transparency in the national budget process. Sotto noted that the measure complements Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which he previously filed with five other senators to promote openness in bicameral conference committee proceedings.

To further the resolution’s goals, Sotto suggested an amendment to ensure public access to the budget process through digital livestreaming of all budget deliberations by the Senate and House of Representatives. He argued that this would allow all Filipinos to view deliberations in real time and revisit them as needed, fostering greater accountability. He also emphasized the importance of handling sensitive information with care.

Sotto added that while public feedback on deliberations and bicameral proceedings is welcome, such inputs should undergo a strict vetting process to maintain the integrity of the process.