House minority lawmakers expressed concerns over the transparency of the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) hearings on the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget, despite it being livestreamed for the public for the first time.
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno urged full disclosure of budget adjustments and who approved them, warning that increases in certain items could heighten risks of corruption, pork, and patronage.
Former Justice and ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima criticized the Bicam’s decision to raise the allocation for Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA), citing past misuse in anomalous flood control projects.
De Lima questioned the constitutionality of increasing UA without a clear revenue source, citing a Supreme Court opinion on similar issues.
Both lawmakers stressed the need for meaningful public participation to ensure that taxpayer money is used properly and transparently.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 19, 2025
‘MUTED SIDE DISCUSSIONS’: MINORITY LAWMAKERS CALL FOR OPEN BICAM DELIBERATIONS
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