Watchdog: Speaker Dy to convene House budget panel to discuss reforms

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III pledged to convene the House Appropriations Committee to discuss potential reforms aimed at boosting budgeting transparency, a watchdog representative said on Thursday.

Speaking at a media briefing after a meeting with lawmakers, People’s Budget Coalition co-convener Kenneth Abante said he met with Dy on Wednesday evening to explore structural fixes in the P7.2-trillion national budget for next year.

And he said that the congressional leader will convene the House Appropriations Committee “to discuss reforms in the budget.”

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“Speaker Bojie Dy expressed his openness to discuss all eight recommendations,” he said, referring to a sweeping list of transparency recommendations that includes calling for the public release of documents and the names of lawmakers who introduced insertions in the spending bill.

In an earlier Thursday statement, Dy said he backed calls for greater budget transparency and that the chamber is willing to disclose supporting budget documents proposed in the spending bill, while partnering with civil groups to expand public oversight.

Bataan Rep. Albert “Abet” Garcia, senior vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said on Thursday the budget panel could come up with a list of lawmakers who advocated for congressional insertions.

“We can ask the committee to release the proponents,” he told a media briefing. /mr