REELECTED Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude A. Acidre on Wednesday expressed his full backing on a proposal to open the bicameral conference committee deliberations of the national budget to the public.
Acidre aligned himself with Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Speaker of the recently concluded 19th Congress, who had earlier expressed support for opening the traditionally closed-door bicam process.
“Nauna na pong nagpahayag ng suporta si Speaker Martin Romualdez tungkol po sa kanyang suporta sa open bicam, and I think it resonates well with many of the members of Congress,” Acidre said in a press conference.
“Kaya po ako, buo ang suporta natin sa panawagang maging transparent, accountable, at bukas ang proseso ng bicameral conference committee sa kadahilanang ito ay pamamaraan para mas maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan ang kabuuan ng proseso ng pagpapanday ng mga batas at polisiya natin,” he added.
Rep. Romualdez earlier said he would support a more open and transparent bicameral conference process for the national budget, emphasizing that the people deserve to know how their money is being allocated.
Acidre said he was open to institutionalizing this through House rules or internal agreements, as long as it respects legislative independence and efficiency.
Following this lead, Acidre called for expanding the policy of openness beyond the annual General Appropriations Act.
“Kaisa po natin si Speaker Martin. Kaisa po tayo sa panukalang buksan ang bicameral conference committee, sa usapin man ito ng General Appropriations Act, ng national budget, o sa anumang mga polisiyang binabalangkas sa Kongreso,” he said.
Acidre emphasized that open bicam deliberations would help Filipinos better understand how laws and policies are finalized, especially since the bicameral process is often where significant changes happen out of public view.
He said greater transparency at this stage could be a game changer in the way governance, particularly in legislation, is being conducted.
The congressman said he views the proposal as a way to make legislative processes more participatory.
“Sabi nga noong kanta, ‘Iisang bangka lang tayo.’ Ito ang magiging isang pamamaraan para tunay natin maipakita na tayong mga Pilipino, hindi lang ang mga kongresista na halal, kundi pati ang ordinaryong mamamayan, dapat may kinalaman at may pakialam sa layunin at direksyon ng ating bansa.”
Asked how the reform could be implemented, Acidre said the most practical and immediate approach would be through a formal House resolution rather than revising the chamber’s rules.
“Initially, the fastest way to go about this, in my opinion, is really to pass a resolution,” he said.
He explained further: “Kasi normally, kung House rules, medyo hindi kaagad-agad nababago. But for this to be really immediate, we are hoping and seriously thinking of filing a resolution proposing and institutionalizing open deliberations at the bicameral conference level.”
