Guingona wants peoples' participation in budget process

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Teofisto Guingona III on Tuesday said that he will re-file in the upcoming 16th Congress a measure that will enable people’s participation in the crafting of the government budget.

Guingona stressed the need to pursue the participation of people’s groups and representatives in the budget process during a meeting with partners at the Senate. He noted that the law is needed to “institutionalize” the process.

Guingona outlined the four processes of the budget processes, which include: preparation, authorization, execution and accountability.

“Right now, [Budget] Sec. [Butch] Abad is already allowing people’s organizations in the preparation of their budget. For example, farmers’ group are consulted in the preparation for the budget of the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

“Let’s have one hearing for people’s organizations or NGOs…. As long as give space for people to be heard. I think that is important,” Guingona said.

Currently, the finance committee chairman and local government officials have the discretion on who should be asked to attend the congressional hearings on the respective government agencies.

“If we have the law, this will be institutionalized so whoever is the committee chairman or the mayor, they are mandated by law to give time and space for people to air out their views in the budget,” Guingona said.

Guingona revealed that his office is also studying a measure that will cover “cloud sourcing.”

“Right now, I am more on let us hear everyone out. It does not mandate that the Congress will outright following what these groups say,”  he said.