TINGOG Party-list Representative Jude Acidre on Wednesday expressed full support for House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez’s call for greater transparency and stronger public accountability in the national budget process, stressing that the time for vague promises and subpar performance is over.
“We must be clear: real accountability goes beyond financial compliance. It’s about results. If government agencies cannot deliver on their mandates, then they must answer to the people,” Acidre declared.
He echoed Speaker Romualdez’s strong words during the opening of the 20th Congress: “Ang kaban ng bayan ay hindi dapat ninanakaw, hindi dapat sinasayang. Ito ay para sa mamamayan—bawat sentimos, bawat proyekto, bawat serbisyo.”
“That’s not just a quote. It’s a warning,” Acidre emphasized. “Every centavo misused, every project delayed, every service undelivered is a betrayal of public trust.”
Acidre cited the Department of Tourism (DOT) as a striking example of how a well-funded agency can still fall short when lacking clear leadership and urgency.
“In 2024, we only welcomed 5.95 million foreign tourists—far below our 2019 figures and lightyears behind Thailand’s 35.5 million and Malaysia’s 25 million. And it’s not just about numbers—we’re also earning less per tourist,” he pointed out.
While neighboring countries have aggressively rebuilt their tourism sectors post-pandemic, the Philippines, Acidre noted, has been hampered by missed targets, ineffective strategies, and costly missteps.
“The DOT had the money. It had the mandate. What it lacked—clearly—was direction. And that is unacceptable,” he said.
Acidre warned that a budget that looks good on paper but fails to deliver real improvements in people’s lives is ultimately meaningless.
“It’s not enough to say the budget is balanced. If it doesn’t fight inflation, create jobs, or build classrooms and hospitals, then it’s just numbers. And numbers don’t feed families,” he said.
He reiterated that TINGOG Party-list is committed to pushing for a budget process that measures performance—not just allocations.
“Transparency is only the beginning. If we don’t start demanding results, we’re simply rewarding mediocrity. The people deserve better. And if agencies can’t deliver, then they don’t deserve the budget,” Acidre concluded.
