Amid growing public outrage over the alleged questionable insertions in the 2025 national budget, a consensus is reportedly forming among senators to open the 2026 budget deliberations to the public in the name of transparency and accountability.
In a recent survey conducted by a radio program, six senators expressed support for the proposal to make the entire budget process public—from preparation and committee hearings to the bicameral conference committee meetings where final reconciliations are made.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stressed the importance of transparency, especially during the reconciliation stage where most insertions allegedly occur.
“Walang record kasi lalo pa ang lumalabas sa istorya… ang nakakaalam lang chair ng House Appropriations Committee at staff ng LBRMO at appropriations committee,” Lacson pointed out.
Sharing similar sentiments were Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sotto said he believes transparency in the budget process is both possible and necessary, while Dela Rosa, Tulfo, and Gatchalian emphasized that there’s nothing wrong with being transparent. Tulfo further noted that the move would prove that senators have nothing to hide from the public.
When asked if they believe there were insertions in the 2025 national budget, all six senators agreed.
“100%. Nagkabukol-bukol nga kaya nahilo ang mga namamahala,” Sotto remarked, referring to the alleged irregularities.
Meanwhile, ten senators declined to comment or respond to the survey, while eight others were not asked to state their position.