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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez backs livestreaming of bicam hearings on national budget

Romualdez backs livestreaming of bicam hearings on national budget

Published Jun 27, 2025 09:39 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez is supporting calls to open to the public the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the national budget, particularly through livestreaming.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez is supporting calls to open to the public the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings on the national budget, particularly through livestreaming.
“I support the move to make Bicameral Conference Committee discussions open to the public. This is a crucial step in restoring public trust and ensuring that the national budget truly reflects the will and welfare of the people, Romualdez said in a statement Friday morning, June 27.
“Transparency and accountability must be the cornerstones of the budget process,” Romualdez underscored ahead of the deliberations for the proposed 2026 national budget in the upcoming 20th Congress.
He says the #OpenBicam campaign, which is gaining traction among reform advocates, pushes for the full disclosure of the bicam hearings which are held in executive session, or closed to the public.
It is often the final stage of reconciling the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the budget measure.
Romualdez said that live-streaming the bicam proceedings for real-time access by citizens and stakeholders would help make the budget process more open to public scrutiny.
He said this move is measure is aligned with his legislative leadership’s commitment to protect public funds. “We owe it to every Filipino to ensure that the budget is crafted with integrity, discipline, and full disclosure.
Romualdez added that the previous 19th Congress had already laid down important groundwork in enhancing budget transparency. “We passed key accountability measures. Now we must build on that momentum by opening the most sensitive and final stages of the legislative process to the Filipino people.”
He also vowed to work with fellow lawmakers, both in the House and the Senate, to institutionalize the #OpenBicam. The Speaker also called on civil society organizations, academic institutions, media, and all concerned Filipinos to actively monitor the discussions.
“We invite every citizen to witness how their budget is being crafted—live and unfiltered. This is your money. This is your future. And now, this is your Congress,” Romualdez said.
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