PING LACSON BILL INSTITUTES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BUDGET DELIBERATIONS

TO prevent a repeat of the mangling of the national budget especially behind closed doors, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill institutionalizing the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the preparation of the national budget.

Lacson, in his Senate bill, stressed anew the need for mechanisms that ensure that the entire budget process adheres to the principles of good governance, to assure Filipino taxpayers that their money is spent effectively and transparently.

“Specifically, this bill aims to institutionalize people’s participation in budget deliberations at various levels of government – national, provincial, municipal, and down to the barangay level. Without underestimating and undermining the capacities of elected representatives in crafting a budget that is needed by a particular locality, this bill gives full play to the people’s right to participate in all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making,” Lacson, who had filed similar bills in past Congresses, said in his bill titled “An Act Institutionalizing the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Preparation and Authorization Process of the Annual National Budget, Providing Effective Mechanisms Therefor and for Other Purposes.”

“Furthermore, it institutionalizes people’s access to information with regard to how taxpayers’ money is being spent. In a way, this bill serves as our people’s safeguard against corruption through public oversight on how our taxes our being spent,” he added.

Also, the bill mandates official recordings and transcriptions for the Bicameral Conference Committee meetings.

Lacson had lamented that pork and other insertions in the budget were being made behind closed doors, particularly during the bicameral conference committee where only a few are present.

“The bicameral conference committee meetings and all other meetings related or associated thereto shall be recorded and be made accessible immediately to promote transparency and to allow members of both Houses to easily determine how conflicting provisions in the proposed national budget were reconciled or resolved prior to the submission thereof for ratification by both Houses of Congress,” Lacson stressed in his bill.

Under the bill – dubbed the “People’s Participation in the National Budget Process Act” – CSO participation shall be deemed a part of the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.

All national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations shall be required to formulate and adopt guidelines outlining the mechanism for the accreditation and active participation of the CSOs in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.

The accredited CSOs, through their duly authorized representatives, shall be allowed to participate as resource persons in the budget hearings, but they must comply with the guidelines issued by both Houses of Congress.

Incentives and privileges for accredited CSOs include:

* Similar participation rights accorded to NGOs in the Local Development Councils;
* To receive notices and participate as resource person in hearings and meetings related to the budget;

* To be allowed to observe at the budget deliberations and at the bicameral conference;
* Access to copies of the budget proposals submitted by the NGAs or GOCCs to the DBM;
* To provide position papers to the DBM on the budget proposal of NGAs or GOCCs submitted pursuant to the budget call;
* To submit its own alternative or proposed budget or position paper;
* Access to issuances including policy orders, circulars and memoranda that are related to the budget;
* Access to the documents prepared by the DBM for submission to Congress by the President as a basis for the General Appropriations Bill;
* To present written proposals on projects and activities of the government entities whose budget is under deliberation; and
* Immediate access to stenographic notes and committee reports released by both Houses, including the bicameral conference committee report.

The NGA or GOCC shall post on their websites or other public posting areas, budget documents to which CSOs shall have access.