JV Ejercito vows to end last-minute budget insertions

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader vowed on Monday to end last-minute budget insertions and post-enactment interventions as Congress began work on the proposed 2027 national budget.

Ending such practices, he said, was his challenge as chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

So he was pushing to open the Bicameral Conference Committee to the public and make budget information available online so that there will be greater scrutiny on changes made before the General Appropriations Bill is finalized

Ejercito issued his statement amid renewed controversy over alleged “leadership funds” and budget insertions following the flood control scandal, including claims of large allocations available for lawmakers to identify projects.

He stressed, however, that tighter oversight of the process should not be mistaken for a limitation on Congress’ power of the purse, which includes its authority to scrutinize and amend the proposed national budget.

Open to public, online tracking

Ejercito said he would not allow the bicameral process to happen behind closed doors. All of its hearings will be “open to the public.”

The public will also be able to track changes in the proposed National Expenditure Program, as all information on the budget process will be posted online, from the Senate and House versions to the final bicameral output.

Ejercito pointed out that legitimate amendments, such as project requests referred to senators by local government units and budgetary adjustments from government departments and agencies, would still be allowed.

But they should go through the proper plenary process and address needs not covered by the proposed budget. The concerned agencies must also retain control, with senators having no hand in post-enactment decisions.

“We as senators can only propose, but it’s the agencies or departments that will validate. We will prevent last-minute insertions and even post-enactment interventions,” Ejercito said.

No blanket halt to projects

Ejercito rejected the idea of stopping all infrastructure projects, saying unfinished yet legitimate ones should continue while ghost projects should face accountability.

He warned that slower public spending was already weighing on economic growth, which he said had declined from 7 percent to 5 percent and more recently to 2percent.

“We are for accountability, but development has to continue. If we stop good and reasonable infrastructure projects, government spending will also slow down, and that will affect our economy. Our economy has to continue,” he said. /atm