President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the House of Representatives to suspend the conduct of executive or secret sessions ahead of the upcoming livestreamed bicameral conference committee (bicam) meetings on the proposed 2026 national budget.
In a statement, Social Watch Philippines, a budget reform and transparency advocacy group, welcomed the development but urged the President to issue stronger directives ensuring full public access to budget discussions.
The group stressed that bicam sessions should only be limited to resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the national budget.
Social Watch also warned that the bicam has long earned a reputation as a “third chamber” where new budget items are inserted without prior deliberation.
“Public transparency in matters of public interest must not be covered by executive session privileges,” said Jessica Reyes-Cantos, co-convenor of the organization. “Budget amendments and insertions should be subject to public scrutiny.”
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio likewise expressed concern that some bicam members might carry out amendments to the expenditure program away from public view.
“Our fear is that what we will get is a performance with the amendments agreed upon behind the scenes,” Tinio said.
While Social Watch lauded the government’s move toward a more transparent budget process, it underscored that true accountability requires more than simply broadcasting the discussions online.
“The President should urgently certify legislative measures that institutionalize openness in the budget bicam and throughout the entire budget process,” Cantos added.
The watchdog also encouraged the immediate passage of House Joint Resolution No. 2 and Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, both of which seek to establish a framework for a “fully open bicam.”
They also called on Congress to include in the bicam report the names of lawmakers and their corresponding amendments to both House and Senate versions of the national budget.
In addition, Social Watch urged the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution No. 5, which would grant public access to budget documents, including briefing transcripts, committee reports, and journals.
Recently, President Marcos reached an agreement with leaders of both chambers of Congress to livestream the bicameral conference discussions on the 2026 proposed budget.
According to the President, this initiative aims to promote transparency and allow the public to see the entire process — including potential insertions or last-minute budget changes.
He added that the move would make it clear who proposed or introduced amendments to the budget.
Marcos emphasized that bicam meetings should be treated as public hearings, noting that in past years, the process was largely kept closed due to the existence of a “small committee.”
He confirmed that both the House and Senate leadership have now agreed to abolish the small committee, paving the way for public access and livestream coverage of the bicam proceedings.