SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday underscored his commitment to transparency and accountability in government spending by welcoming accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) to an orientation on the national budget process ahead of the start of plenary deliberations.
The orientation, conducted by Dr. Romulo Emmanuel Miral Jr., head of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD), briefed CSO representatives on the guidelines for their participation as non-voting observers in the crafting and oversight of the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget.
“Every peso in the budget must be truly responsive to the needs of our people and our country,” Speaker Romualdez said. “By opening the process to civil society, we are showing that nothing is hidden and that the people themselves have a voice in shaping where their taxes will go.”
He added: “Bawat piso ay may dapat mapuntahan. Bawat gastusin ay kailangang may pakinabang sa tao. Ito ang tunay na diwa ng isang bukas at tapat na budget process.”
After the orientation, the CSO representatives proceeded to the plenary hall to witness the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) briefing that marked the start of this year’s budget deliberations.
This initiative builds on the landmark reform Speaker Romualdez introduced with the House’s adoption of Resolution No. 94 institutionalizing participation of accredited CSOs in the budget process.
Last week, he personally turned over copies of the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to CSO representatives symbolizing their recognition as official participants to the budget deliberations in the chamber.
The move was hailed by stakeholders as a “milestone for public participation” in the legislative process.
Romualdez emphasized that the twin reforms—the ceremonial turnover of the NEP and the formal orientation of CSO observers—are central to his vision of a more open and participatory 20th Congress under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, dapat maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino na kasama sila sa paggawa ng desisyon, lalo na pagdating sa paggastos ng kanilang pinaghirapang buwis,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Among the accredited CSOs participating in the process are Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, CODE-NGO, Commuters for Change, Health Justice, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Jesse Robredo Institute, MoveAsOne Coalition, Multiply-Ed Philippines, People’s Budget Coalition/Citizen’s Budget Tracker, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, REID Foundation, Safe Travel PH, Social Watch Philippines, and the Makati Business Club.
“These reforms are about trust,” Romualdez concluded. “A government the people can trust is a government the people can believe in—and that trust begins with a budget process that is open to all.”
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