HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday expressed support for proposals to make the national budget process more transparent, saying Filipinos have the right to know how public funds are allocated and spent.
Dy said the House of Representatives is open to disclosing supporting documents for government projects, making budget deliberations more accessible to the public, and working with civil society groups to strengthen public oversight.
“Dapat malaman ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pera, sino ang nagpanukala ng mga proyekto, bakit kailangan ang mga ito, at kung sino ang makikinabang,” Dy said.
The Speaker welcomed proposals calling for greater transparency in congressional budget amendments, public verification of government projects, more open bicameral conference committee deliberations, and closer scrutiny of the budgets of government offices, including Congress.
He also expressed support for reforms that would make government assistance more accessible based on people’s needs rather than political connections.
Dy said the House is prepared to work with the Senate, executive agencies and civil society organizations to ensure that public funds address urgent national concerns, including food security, healthcare, education, employment, infrastructure and preparations for El Niño.
“Dapat ding unahin ang mga tunay na pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan—pagkain, trabaho, kalusugan, edukasyon, mga kalsada at paghahanda sa kalamidad at El Niño,” he said.
At the same time, Dy stressed that legitimate congressional amendments should not automatically be associated with corruption.
He explained that lawmakers have a responsibility to represent the needs of their constituents and propose projects that address development gaps in their districts.
“Hindi lahat ng pagbabagong ginagawa ng Kongreso sa badyet ay mali. Tungkulin ng mga kongresista na ipaglaban ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga distrito. Ang mahalaga, maayos ang proyekto, kumpleto ang dokumento at may tunay na pakinabang sa tao,” Dy said.
The Speaker emphasized that transparency and accountability should apply to all government institutions, including the House of Representatives.
“Walang dapat itago kung walang ginagawang mali. At walang dapat katakutan kung ang layunin ay maglingkod nang tapat,” he said.
“Ang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan. Karapatan nilang malaman kung paano ito ginagastos,” Dy added.
metrosundaily
