Greater openness in budget bicam talks sought; livestream ‘not enough’

LAWMAKERS should pursue deeper transparency reforms beyond livestreaming as Congress finalizes the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for next year, analysts said.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Adrian H. Halili Reporters

They urged the House of Representatives and the Senate to disclose their proposed changes to the budget bill ahead of bicameral conference committee (bicam) meetings — the stage where both chambers iron out differences in the spending plan and where major insertions often occur.

“There is always a risk that reforms become tokenistic,” Ederson DT. Tapia, a public administration professor at the University of Makati, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “To avoid this, Congress must adopt concrete safeguards.”

Lawmakers are entering the final stretch of budget work amid heightened corruption worries, following the fallout from a growing kickback scheme tied to public works projects that has pulled in senior politicians, government officials and contractors. The controversy has placed unusual public attention on this year’s budgeting process.

Congress has taken initial steps to make the process more open. The House created a subcommittee to consolidate proposed amendments to the Executive branch’s budget. The Senate, meanwhile, approved a resolution allowing bicam deliberations to be made public through livestreaming.

House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Mikaela Angela B. Su-ansing said last week that both chambers have begun coordinating rules for opening the traditionally closed-door bicam discussions to the public.

But analysts said these measures fall short. “Livestreaming helps, but it is not enough,” Mr. Tapia said.