Photo courtesy: Akbayan Partylist
SEVERAL lawmakers have filed a joint resolution (J.R.) seeking to open the bicameral conference committee deliberations to the public for transparency to ensure that President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption stance will be fulfilled.
Akbayan Partylist Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendana, Dadah Ismula, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, and Women LP Legislators Albay First District Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima have decided to take this pronouncement one bolder step further by filing a House JR No. 2 or Upholding Fidelity to the 1987 Constitution Relative to the Duties and Responsibilities of the Bicameral Conference Committee with a View to Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the Enactment of Laws.
“Hindi sapat ang review sa flood control. Let’s institutionalize corruption control through a transparent bicam process kung saan kasama ang taumbayan,” Rep. Diokno said.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, the President declared that “Kailangan malaman ng taong-bayan ang buong katotohanan. Kailangang may managot sa naging matinding pinsala at katiwalian. Therefore, for the 2026 National Budget, I will return any proposed General Appropriations Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program.”
“We hope that this joint resolution will be approved as this will help address the corruption that deprives the Filipino people of decent shelter during floods. Panahon na upang ito’y ipatupad para na rin sa tamang paggamit ng pondo ng taumbayan,” Rep. Lagman said.
This joint resolution if adopted will have the force of law, addressing the President’s concerns on corruption stealing the future of the Filipinos, of depriving the people of decent shelter during floods.
It asserts that ‘corruption and harmful political insertions in legislation lead to the unfair use of public funds’–depriving ‘the poor and underprivileged of food security, decent housing, timely healthcare, quality, accessible education, and effective responses to the climate emergency.’
Under the resolution, all bicameral conference committee meetings will be open to the public, conducted in person or through digital livestreaming. This shall make all deliberations not just transparent but also equally important hold the conferees accountable for any irregularity.
Furthermore, the bicameral conference committee is mandated to produce a matrix comparing the differences between the House of Representatives’ and the Senate’s versions of the bill, and how these differences were resolved. This matrix will be made available to the public.
The bicameral conference committee shall immediately produce comprehensive minutes of the meeting/s which will also be open to the public.
To ensure its full implementation, a committee will be formed within thirty (30) days after this Resolution takes effect, with Chairpersons of the Senate and House Committees on Rules as co-chairs and five members each from both committees.
“This committee will work together to draft and issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Resolution, in consultation with civil society organizations and individual advocates for transparency and good governance known for their integrity, independence, and expertise,” the resolution stated.
Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros together with Minority member Senators Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson and Miguel Zubiri earlier filed a counterpart resolution in the Senate pushing for the same initiative. Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino also signed the resolution.
