Speaker Dy backs calls for greater budget transparency

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday said that Dy said the House of Representatives is open to disclosing supporting documents for government projects and make budget deliberations more accessible to the public.

“Walang dapat itago kung walang ginagawang mali. At walang dapat katakutan kung ang layunin ay maglingkod nang tapat,” Dy said.

(There is nothing to hide if nothing wrong is being done. And there is nothing to fear if the intention is to serve honestly.)

“Ang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan. Karapatan nilang malaman kung paano ito ginagastos,” he added.

(The budget is the people's money. It is their right to know how it is being spent.)

The People’s Budget Coalition has flagged P170 billion increase in budget for multi-purpose buildings and local road projects. It also flagged eight farm to market roads with locations mapped in seas.

The Department of Agriculture has since clarified that the eight farm to market locations with wrong coordinates were a typographical error on its part.

Dy, meanwhile, said that amendments introduced by lawmakers in the P7.2 trillion proposed budget should not be presumed "anomalous."

“Hindi lahat ng pagbabagong ginagawa ng Kongreso sa badyet ay mali. Tungkulin ng mga kongresista na ipaglaban ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga distrito. Ang mahalaga, maayos ang proyekto, kumpleto ang dokumento at may tunay na pakinabang sa tao,” Dy said.

(Legitimate congressional amendments should not automatically be associated with corruption. What is important here is that the projects are backed up with documents and would be of service to the community.)

The Speaker also expressed support for reforms that would make government assistance more accessible based on people’s needs rather than political connections.

“The House is prepared to work with the Senate, executive agencies and civil society organizations to ensure that public funds address urgent national concerns, including food security, healthcare, education, employment, infrastructure and preparations for El Niño,” he added.

The House has already approved the proposed P7.2 trillion budget on third and final reading.

The Senate is still deliberating on the proposed 2027 national budget.