The start of the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 national budget on Saturday, December 13, was met with protests.
Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and other groups staged a demonstration in front of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, just hours before the session began.
BAYAN called on the bicameral committee to disclose all amendments and insertions to the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), including the complete list of “allocables” for each congressman, party-list representative, and senator.
They also urged for a clear mechanism and timeline for public access and feedback before the reconciled version of the GAB is approved.
Amid rising prices, inadequate public services, and worsening inequality, the group emphasized that every peso of the budget should be transparent and accountable.
“We, the people, have the right to know where our taxes will go. We have the right to see who inserted what, how much was added or realigned, and for whose benefit,” BAYAN said in a Facebook statement.
“The people deserve a budget they can see, understand, and influence. Ilatag ang lahat. Panagutin ang lahat. Ibalik sa taumbayan ang budget,” they added.