By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Senate leaders on Tuesday stood firm that the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget must be livestreamed, following reports that some members of the House of Representatives prefer closed-door proceedings.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he will not allow the bicam on House Bill No. 4058, the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), to proceed without livestreaming, stressing that transparency had already been agreed upon with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Hindi ako papayag. Hindi ako papayag na hindi naka-livestream,” he told reporters in an ambush interview.
Sotto added that Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy did not raise any objections during their LEDAC meeting.
“Matagal na naming napag-usapan na livestream talaga ‘yun… SOP na ‘yun,” he said.
Sotto dismissed fears that livestreaming could lead to a deadlock, saying it has no bearing on the substance of budget deliberations but ensures accountability.
“Gusto namin naka-open, kitang-kita ng publiko kung sino-sino ang naglagay nito… ano ang budget para sa DepEd, DOH, D.A.,” he said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson confirmed that senators have been informed of “some resistance” from House members regarding livestreaming.
He said finance committee chair Sen. Win Gatchalian is coordinating directly with his House counterparts and noted that the Senate has already adopted a concurrent resolution requiring livestreaming of bicam proceedings.
“Ilalaban namin basta’t kailangan i-livestream,” Lacson said.
The bicameral conference committee is expected to convene this week, with senators maintaining that public access to the proceedings is essential to ensuring transparency in the approval of the national budget.
