Ejercito files ‘Bantay Budget’ bill to give CSOs say in budget prep

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the preparation of the national budget was filed at the Senate on Monday.

Senate finance committee chairperson, Sen. JV Ejercito, filed Senate Bill No. 2576, or the “Bantay Budget Act,” as the panel sought a consultation with several CSOs for the 2027 national budget.

“In the interest of transparency, CSO participation shall be a component in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget,” Ejercito wrote in the proposed measure.

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READ: Civil society groups feel left out of 2027 budget talks

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Under the bill, CSOs would be allowed to participate in budget hearings both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, including one hearing day dedicated to the CSOs’ position on the proposed budget. 

Should the measure be passed, CSOs must apply for accreditation to be granted access to copies of the budget proposals, issuances related to the budget, and stenographic notes and committee reports from Congress among others

“The 1987 Constitution recognizes the vital role of people’s organizations in nation-building and guarantees the right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision making. Despite this constitutional mandate, public participation in the national budget remains limited,” Ejercito noted.

“At a time when public trust in the management of government resources must be strengthened, we must ensure that transparency is not merely promised, accountability is not merely demanded and public participation is not merely symbolic,” he added.

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Also in light of the ongoing budget deliberations at the Senate, Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 2577, or the “Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Act.”

SB No. 2577 mandates local government units to hold participatory consultation assemblies at least twice a year with accredited CSOs within their territorial jurisdictions to present their position on local poverty reduction action plans, development investment programs and annual budget proposals.

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“The bill seeks to institutionalize a permanent bottom-up budgeting mechanism in local and national development planning… By empowering CSOs to actively participate in project formulation, budget prioritization, and transparent third-party monitoring, public governance becomes more transparent, responsive, and aligned with grassroot needs,” Ejercito highlighted. /mr