End budget mangling during small bicam

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri called for an end to the "small bicam" practice of mangling the proposed national budget by lawmakers who make "midnight insertions" in the outlay to benefit their constituents.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

In a Zoom press briefing yesterday, Zubiri cited his stint as Senate president in lamenting this small bicam "tradition" of tinkering with the budget for some lawmakers' pet projects during past Congresses, which end up being used as a "moneymaking racket."

"This is why there is a lack of transparency and a shroud of secrecy in the small bicam," Zubiri said, referring to the smaller group of lawmakers in the bicameral conference committee where the realignments in the General Appropriations bill happen.