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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House turns over 2026 NEP to civil society groups in historic move

House turns over 2026 NEP to civil society groups in historic move

Published Aug 14, 2025 02:16 pm

At A Glance

  • In a historic and unprecedented gesture of transparency and inclusivity, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez turned over copies of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs).
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)


In a historic and unprecedented gesture of transparency and inclusivity, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez turned over copies of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs).
This took place Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the House of Representatives shortly after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted the proposed spending plan to the legislative chamber in a simple ceremony.
CSO leaders hailed the move as a breakthrough for public participation.
“Opening the budget process from the Legislative side is a big milestone,” said Maxine Tanya Hamada of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, speaking for the group.
“We represent people, communities, and issues. Knowing we are working together under the 20th Congress is something we take very seriously,” she said.
Among the CSOs represented during the event included Social Watch, CODE-NGO, Jesse Robredo Institute of Governance, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, Child Rights Network, Parents Against Vape, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Multiply-Ed Philippines, FOI Youth Initiative, Safe Travel PH, REID Foundation, People’s Budget Coalition/Citizen’s Budget Tracker, and Novalerto Youth.
Just a few days ago, the 300-plus strong chamber adopted in plenary House Resolution (HR) No. 94. The landmark measure institutionalizes the participation of people’s organizations as non-voting observers in House budget deliberations.
The resolution was authored by Speaker Romualdez along with Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre.
The CSO participation is just one of many reforms that the House leadership had outlined for this year's budget process and beyond.
These incclude removing the “small committee” that previously finalized changes to the budget measure behind closed doors and the opening the House-Senate bicameral conference on the budget to the public and the media.
The House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela "Mika" Suansing, will kick off the per agency budget deliberations on Monday, Aug. 18.
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