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Senate Finance Committee chairperson Senator JV Ejercito filed a bill on Monday that would formalize the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the national budget process. The measure, titled the “Bantay Budget Act,” seeks to make CSO involvement a required component of the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget. “In the interest of transparency, CSO participation shall be a component in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget,” the bill reads. On the same day, the Senate held a dialogue with budget watchdogs after completing its subcommittee‑level discussions with government agencies. Once the committee finalizes its report, the budget will be debated in the full Senate on 9 November. Under the proposed act, civic groups would need to submit applications for accreditation to attend a dedicated hearing day where they can present their concerns. The measure would also grant accredited groups access to copies of budget proposals, budget‑related issuances, stenographic notes of hearings, and committee reports. Ejercito cited the 1987 Constitution’s recognition of the role of people’s organizations in nation‑building and decision‑making. He noted that CSOs currently have little to no access to the budget process and said, “At a time when public trust in the management of government resources must be strengthened, we must ensure that transparency is not merely promised, accountability is not merely demanded and public participation is not merely symbolic.” In addition to the Bantay Budget Act, Ejercito has authored the “Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Act,” which would require local government units to hold assemblies twice a year. The bill aims to strengthen bottom‑up budgeting mechanisms and make local budget allocations more transparent, responsive, and aligned with the needs of the communities they serve. Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune
Senate Finance Committee chairperson Senator JV Ejercito filed a bill on Monday that would formalize the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the national budget process. The measure, titled the “Bantay Budget Act,” seeks to make CSO involvement a required component of the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget. “In the interest of transparency, CSO participation shall be a component in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget,” the bill reads. On the same day, the Senate held a dialogue with budget watchdogs after completing its subcommittee‑level discussions with government agencies. Once the committee finalizes its report, the budget will be debated in the full Senate on 9 November. Under the proposed act, civic groups would need to submit applications for accreditation to attend a dedicated hearing day where they can present their concerns. The measure would also grant accredited groups access to copies of budget proposals, budget‑related issuances, stenographic notes of hearings, and committee reports. Ejercito cited the 1987 Constitution’s recognition of the role of people’s organizations in nation‑building and decision‑making. He noted that CSOs currently have little to no access to the budget process and said, “At a time when public trust in the management of government resources must be strengthened, we must ensure that transparency is not merely promised, accountability is not merely demanded and public participation is not merely symbolic.” In addition to the Bantay Budget Act, Ejercito has authored the “Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Act,” which would require local government units to hold assemblies twice a year. The bill aims to strengthen bottom‑up budgeting mechanisms and make local budget allocations more transparent, responsive, and aligned with the needs of the communities they serve.
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