Members of the Young Guns bloc in the House of Representatives hailed the approval of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 8, which seeks to livestream the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed ₱6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.
According to Young Guns, composed of Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V and Jefferson Khonghun, and Representatives Zia Alonto Adiong, Rodge Gutierrez, and Ernix Dionisio, HCR 8 represents a “landmark victory” for legislative transparency.
“With the adoption of [HCR 8], the once-opaque process of legislative reconciliation is finally brought into the light,” the bloc said.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, citizens will be able to witness in real time how the laws and the national budget that shape their lives are forged. This is not merely a procedural reform — it is a triumph for openness, accountability, and genuine people-powered democracy,” they added.
The Young Guns thanked House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and House Committee on Appropriations chair Mika Suansing for supporting the reform that makes budget deliberations public.
They also urged citizens to actively follow the deliberations starting Saturday, December 13.
“Ang national budget ay ang budget ng bayan — nararapat lamang na makita ng bayan ang pagbuo nito,” the lawmakers said, noting that past bicameral deliberations were held behind closed doors.