MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has pushed back against the automatic association of congressional budget amendments with corruption, emphasizing that legislators are mandated to champion the needs of their constituents.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 5, Dy stressed that budget modifications introduced by Congress should be evaluated based on the merits of the projects, the completeness of supporting documents, and their tangible benefit to the public.
“Hindi lahat ng pagbabagong ginagawa ng Kongreso sa badyet ay mali. Tungkulin ng mga kongresista na ipaglaban ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga distrito. Ang mahalaga, maayos ang proyekto, kumpleto ang dokumento at may tunay na pakinabang sa tao,” Dy explained.
Commitment to Open Governance
The statement follows the House’s approval last month of the ₱7.2-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2027 on third and final reading, which is currently undergoing review in the Senate.
Expressing strong support for an open national budget process, Dy underscored that citizens deserve visibility over public funds.
“Dapat malaman ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pera, sino ang nagpanukala ng mga proyekto, bakit kailangan ang mga ito, at kung sino ang makikinabang,” he noted.
To reinforce accountability, Dy announced that the House is prepared to disclose project supporting documents, expand public accessibility during budget deliberations, and collaborate with civil society organizations (CSOs) to heighten oversight. He also welcomed proposals for public project verification, more open bicameral conference committee proceedings, and closer scrutiny of all government offices, including Congress.
Prioritizing Urgent National Concerns
Dy expressed backing for reforms aimed at distributing government assistance based on genuine public need rather than political affiliation. He noted that the House aims to work alongside the Senate, executive agencies, and civil society groups to focus funds on pressing national priorities.
“Dapat ding unahin ang mga tunay na pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan—pagkain, trabaho, kalusugan, edukasyon, mga kalsada at paghahanda sa kalamidad at El Niño,” Dy said.
Reiterating that institutional accountability applies universally, the Speaker maintained that transparency shields honest public service from suspicion.
“Walang dapat itago kung walang ginagawang mali. At walang dapat katakutan kung ang layunin ay maglingkod nang tapat,” he added. “Ang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan. Karapatan nilang malaman kung paano ito ginagastos.”