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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House 'Young Guns' underscore historic nature of open budget bicam hearings

House 'Young Guns' underscore historic nature of open budget bicam hearings

Published Dec 12, 2025 12:35 am

At A Glance

  • The historic nature of the upcoming bicam hearings on the 2026 national budget--which will be opened to the public for the first time ever--wasn't lost on the members of the House "Young Guns" bloc.
From left to right: "Young Guns" members Reps. Paolo Ortega V, Rodge Gutierrez, Ernix Dionisio, Zia Alonto Adiong, Jay Khonghun (Contributed photo)
From left to right: "Young Guns" members Reps. Paolo Ortega V, Rodge Gutierrez, Ernix Dionisio, Zia Alonto Adiong, Jay Khonghun (Contributed photo)


The historic nature of the upcoming bicam hearings on the 2026 national budget--which will be opened to the public for the first time ever--wasn't lost on the members of the House "Young Guns" bloc.
That's why Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V (La Union, 1st district), Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st district); and Deputy Majority Leaders Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st district), Rodge Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list), and Ernix Dionisio (Manila, 1st district) hailed the House of Representatives' adoption of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) No. 8, which mandated the livestreaming of all Bicameral Conference Committee proceedings.
“With the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution No. 8, the once-opaque process of legislative reconciliation is finally brought into the light,” the Young Guns declared in a joint statement.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, citizens will be able to witness in real time how the laws and the national budget that shape their lives are forged. This is not merely a procedural reform — it is a triumph for openness, accountability, and genuine people-powered democracy," said the clique, which made a name for themselves during the previous 19th Congress.
To be launched on Saturday, Dec. 13, the bicam hearings is where contingents from the House of Representatives and Senate convene to harmonize the differing provisions of their respective versions of any given measure.
In this case, it's the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026.
Since the start of the 20th Congress back in July, the House has pursued the lifting of the veil on the bicam process on the budget. The chamber was the first in Philippine Congress to seek the livestreaming of the hearings.
The adoption of HCR No.8 on Wednesday, Dec. 10 was simply a reiteration of this commitment.
The Young Guns have consistently been vocal in their support to open the legislative process to greater public scrutiny, with particular emphasis on budget deliberations.
They have been consistent in saying that the crucial reconciliation stage between the House of Representatives and the Senate — long conducted in executive sessions — be made fully transparent to the Filipino people.
The group extended its deepest gratitude to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III (Isabela, 6th district), Majority Leader Sandro Marcos (Ilocos Norte, 1st district), Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan (4Ps Party-list), and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing (Nueva Ecija, 1st their) for steadfast leadership and decisive support in turning this long-overdue reform into reality.
The Young Guns called on all Filipinos to actively monitor the upcoming bicam sessions.
After the bicam, the two chambers will separately ratify the finalized 2026 GAB and then submit it to Malacañang for President Marcos' signature.
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