In a bid for transparency, Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III wants all budget deliberations to be accessible to the public through livestreaming. 

Sotto had this to say he expressed full support for Concurrent Joint Resolution No. 4, filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Backed by numerous sponsors, the measure seeks to strengthen transparency in the national budget process.

Sotto noted that the measure complements Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which he earlier filed with five other senators to promote openness in Bicameral Conference Committee Proceedings.

According to Sotto, the digital livestream will ensure that all budget deliberations can be viewed in real time and revisited at any time by any Filipino, thereby fostering greater accountability.

While pushing for openness, the minority leader also stressed the need for caution in handling sensitive information.

He clarified to Gatchalian that while the public may criticize and give feedback on deliberations and bicameral proceedings, these inputs should be thoroughly screened and subjected to a strict vetting process to protect the integrity of the budget cycle.

Gatchalian assured his colleagues, “Internally, since this will be through our email system, and this will not be published for data privacy purposes, the receiver, the Senate, will vet the feedback we receive. We will process and vet that very carefully.”

Sotto agreed and said, “I like that phrase ‘very carefully’ because I want to be assured that no foreign entities or militant organizations will use the published information in a way that might compromise our national security.”

He reiterated that transparency and national security must go hand in hand to maintain public trust while safeguarding the nation’s welfare, especially through the national budget.