MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday expressed confidence that the Senate will remove unsubstantiated programs, projects, and questionable line items from the proposed 2027 national budget, backing efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in government spending.
Speaking to reporters, Hontiveros said she and her fellow vice chairpersons fully support Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito in continuing the budget reforms initiated last year, particularly the opening of bicameral conference committee (bicam) proceedings to the public.
"I'm very confident because we in the Senate are firmly committed to supporting the position taken by the Senate President two days ago," Hontiveros said, referring to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian's commitment to remove programs, activities, projects, and line items that lack sufficient justification.
"We, the vice chairpersons, fully support Chair JV (Ejercito) in continuing the budget reforms initiated last year, including making the bicameral conference committee proceedings open to the public," she added.
Hontiveros also cited efforts by some Senate finance committee vice chairpersons to open budget hearings to civil society organizations (CSOs), allowing public-interest groups to participate in scrutinizing government spending proposals.
The senator said that public participation should extend beyond congressional budget hearings and begin at the earliest stages of the budget preparation process.
"I think advocates want to push for their participation all the way back to the beginning of the process—from the President's budget call to the preparation of each department's budget request for submission to the DBM," she said.
Hontiveros said broader public participation would help establish a more transparent and accountable budget process.
"So yes, I am confident that the Senate can pass the best version of the budget from our perspective, and we are committed to deliberating with our counterparts in the House during the bicameral conference committee proceedings," she added.
