We are citizens who support the initiative of Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance/TAMA NA (an alliance advocating for honest, accountable, transparent, and democratic governance) to compel the leadership of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives to open to the public the 2025 Budget Bicameral Conference. 

We have closely followed the House deliberations of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill and appreciated the real-time discussions at the committee and plenary levels. We are also now monitoring the Senate deliberations on the 2025 budget which have just started. As in the Lower House discussions, the current Senate deliberations are open to the public through onsite attendance or through livestreaming.

In contrast, the Bicameral Conference to reconcile differences in the budget versions of the two chambers has never been open to the public nor livestreamed on mainstream or social media. As this is a crucial stage in the budget process prior to its final approval by the separate plenary sessions of Congress and its submission to Malacañang, we call on Congress to adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability by opening the conference deliberations to the public. We specifically request the following:

- Publicize the schedule and venue of the Bicameral Conference;

- Livestream the Bicameral Conference sessions;

- Allow citizens and media to observe and document the proceedings;

- Publish the minutes of the Bicameral Conference;

- Pass a resolution or bill institutionalizing the opening of the Bicameral Conference to the public.

Over the years, the Bicameral Conference has been called the “Third House” of Congress because of its power to realign billions of pesos and even introduce major amendments in the budget bill. We believe this should not be done in closed-door sessions and the public have the right to be informed about how legislators are finalizing the proposed budget. The people should be able to determine the changes made by Congress in the budget and whether the insertion or deletion of particular fund items is in the nation's best interest.

We are particularly interested in how the Bicameral Conference addresses issues related to the huge confidential and intelligence fund of the President, the ballooning of unprogrammed funds in the past several years, the budget of the Office of the Vice President, DPWH, NTF-ELCAC, DOH, DepEd, DSWD, DHSUD, flood control, and environment-related items, among others.

Congress may have the power of the purse but legislators should be reminded that they are ultimately accountable to the people they claim to represent. An open and transparent budget process is important in pursuing accountability and promoting good governance.

The practice of holding the Bicameral Conference is shrouded in secrecy, raising fear about the people’s money being hostaged by transactional politics. It’s time to start a new tradition in the budget process founded on transparency and open governance.  We hope you are one with us in realizing this goal.

In the name of transparency and accountability, open the Bicameral Conference and allow the people to observe the budget proceedings.