Abante pushes for livestreamed Bicam for P7.2-T 2027 national budget

MANILA – Streaming the 2027 national budget deliberations live would enhance transparency, empowering taxpayers to examine how public funds are utilized.

Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. expressed his support for holding an open, public bicameral conference for the 2027 national budget.

“Palagay ko dapat maging transparent tayo sa bicam. Dapat talagang makita (I think we should be transparent in the bicameral conference. That really needs to be seen),” he said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“Ako, naniniwala ako na sa bicam, kinakailangan imbitahin lahat ‘yung mga religious, educators, civil societies, lahat yan imbitahan para makita nila na wala tayong anumang tinatago sa taong bayan (Personally, I believe that for the bicam, we need to invite everyone — religious groups, educators, civil society organizations — so they can see that we aren’t hiding anything from the public),” he added.

2027 national budget

The proposed national budget for 2027 is about six percent higher than the P6.793 trillion for 2026. It includes P111.9 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, which may be released only when specified funding conditions are met.

The Department of Education has the highest allocation at P976 billion.

Abante noted that the budget should not be kept a secret, whether it involves unprogrammed funds or automatic appropriations.

“[K]inakailangan malaman ng taong-bayan kung saan nagmumula ‘yan, kung saan nanggagaling ‘yan, kung anong klaseng project ‘yan, kung paano i-implement ‘yan, at kung magkano na budget ang ibinigay diyan, at kung sino ang mag-i-implement (The public needs to know its sources, the nature of the projects, how they will be implemented, the allocated budget, and who will carry out the implementation),” he said.

The House of Representatives is set to begin its deliberations on the national budget Monday and aims to approve the 2027 General Appropriations Bill by Oct. 9.

Abante said the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate will not affect the timeline for the budget.

“Nakita naman natin na four hours lang ang impeachment court. Sa umaga nagsisimula, 3 p.m. deliberation na ‘yan, so, I don’t think na maaapektuhan din ‘yan (We’ve seen that the impeachment court sits for only four hours. It starts in the morning, and deliberations take place by 3 p.m., so I don’t think that will be affected). It will go on,” he said.

Acting Department of Budget and Management Secretary Kim de Leon on Friday said opening the bicameral proceedings to public scrutiny would promote a “more transparent, accountable, and participatory budget process.” (PNA)

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