NAVOTAS Rep. Toby Tiangco on Thursday made public P2.282 billion worth of proposed infrastructure projects for his district, challenging fellow lawmakers to disclose their own allocations after the House of Representatives rejected proposals to make budget transparency mandatory.
“If they do not want to make transparency mandatory, I will start with my own district. There is no reason to hide from the public where their money goes,” Tiangco said in a Facebook Live broadcast.
The lawmaker said he would publish the projects and their corresponding allocations on his official Facebook page so Navotas residents could scrutinize how the proposed funds would be spent.
His disclosure follows the House’s rejection of two amendments he introduced on Oct. 7 seeking mandatory publication of the chamber’s budget utilization, including allocations and expenditures for each legislator, and DPWH projects in every congressional district.
The P2.282 billion covers 39 proposed infrastructure projects for Navotas under the House version of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill, according to Tiangco.
He said 75 projects worth P4.537 billion were approved by the Regional Development Council and civil society organizations for the city, but only 28 projects amounting to P1.609 billion were included in the National Expenditure Program.
After consultations with DPWH officials and the Navotas City Engineering Office, 18 urgent projects worth P804.75 million were for prioritization, and 11 for deferment.
Four additional DPWH-proposed projects worth P673 million brought the district’s proposed allocation to P2.282 billion.
Tiangco urged his colleagues to adopt the same practice, saying constituents should know not only how much money is allocated to their districts but also which projects would receive funding and why they were selected.
“If we can show the people of Navotas how much the budget is, where it will be spent, and why these projects were chosen, I hope all congressmen will do the same. Every Filipino has the right to know how their money is being spent,” he said.
“Transparency cannot apply only when we are talking about the budgets of other agencies. It must start with us in Congress. The budget belongs to the people, not politicians,” he added.
He said transparency should become a standard across government rather than depend on individual lawmakers’ willingness to disclose their allocations.
“Transparency should not be optional. It should be the standard for everyone in government. And that standard must begin with us,” Tiangco said.
