By Brian Campued
The Senate on Wednesday adopted Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which seeks to ensure public access to information in the deliberations of the proposed 2026 national budget.
According to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and sponsor of the measure, the landmark move will strengthen the budget process by enforcing transparency and accountability.
Under the resolution, Congressional documents such as the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) passed on third reading by the House of Representatives (HOR) and transmitted to the Senate as well as the Bicameral Conference Committee Report and the joint explanation of the disagreeing votes of lawmakers, will be made available to the public via the Senate and HOR websites.
It also proposes the uploading of the transcripts of both chamber’s budget briefings, House Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee on Finance reports on the GAB, journal records of plenary deliberations, and the GAB passed on third reading by the Senate.
The concurrent resolution was filed in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call during his fourth State of the Nation Address for transparency and accountability in government spending, particularly in flood control projects.
The President also warned of rejecting the 2026 GAB if it is not aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), led by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, turned over the 2026 NEP to the Senate, containing the proposed P6.793 trillion spending plan of the administration for the next fiscal year.
The DBM also transmitted the 2026 NEP to the House of Representatives on the same day, marking the start of the budget review season—when lawmakers convene a series of committee hearings and public consultations to scrutinize the proposed national budget.
Gatchalian assured that the Senate would not allow any controversial and misaligned insertions in the GAB. “Hindi ko papayagan na magkaroon ng pagsisingit especially sa bicam, ‘yong bicam will be limited to disagreeing provisions,” the senator stressed.
“As a principle, regardless, kahit anong budget ‘yan—whether Cha-Cha, people’s initiative, AKAP (Ayuda para sa Kapos Ang Kita Program)—as long as walang detailed plan [or] it was not a proposed plan from the Executive, hindi natin puwedeng payagan na bigla na lang siyang maipapasok sa bicam,” he added. (With report from Daniel Manalastas / PTV News)
-jpv
