House ready to disclose documents on gov’t projects —Speaker Dy

MANILA – The House of Representatives is ready to disclose supporting documents for government projects and support greater transparency on budget deliberations, according to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

He issued the statement after a budget watchdog aired concerns regarding supposed “red flags” in the House-approved 2027 national budget proposal. 

People’s Budget Coalition earlier raised concerns over nearly 7,000 infrastructure projects worth P190 billion, among others, allegedly added by House members to their version of proposed 2027 budget, saying many lacked supporting documents and clear justifications.

“Suportado natin ang mga panukalang gawing mas bukas, malinaw at tapat ang paggawa ng pambansang badyet. Dapat malaman ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pera, sino ang nagpanukala ng mga proyekto, bakit kailangan ang mga ito, at kung sino ang makikinabang,” Dy said. 

“Handa ang Kamara na ilabas ang mga kinakailangang dokumento, suportahan ang mas bukas na pagtalakay sa badyet, at makipagtulungan sa mga grupo ng mamamayan upang mas madaling masuri ng publiko ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno,” he added.

The House Speaker, meanwhile, defended the duty of House members to push for the inclusion in the proposed national budget of programs and projects that will address their constituents’ needs.

Dy said what is important is that projects are implemented properly, with complete documentation, and beneficial to the public.

He issued the statement after a budget watchdog observed that the Department of Public Works and Highways district engineering offices covering the congressional districts of some House leaders received the biggest infrastructure allocations under the proposed 2027 national budget.

“Mahalaga ring linawin na hindi lahat ng pagbabagong ginagawa ng Kongreso sa badyet ay mali. Tungkulin ng mga kongresista na ipaglaban ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga distrito. Ang mahalaga, maayos ang proyekto, kumpleto ang dokumento at may tunay na pakinabang sa tao,” Dy said. 

“Walang dapat itago kung walang ginagawang mali. At walang dapat katakutan kung ang layunin ay maglingkod nang tapat. Ang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan. Karapatan nilang malaman kung paano ito ginagastos,” he added