Akbayan Partylist has called for the passage of two budgetary reform measures that safeguard public funds against misuse of the national budget and ensure transparency in government.

The partylist was referring to the Savings and Augmentation Bill (HB 11389) and the Freedom of Information Act (HB 11491)---measures dubbed as the Bantay Budget Bills.

Akbayan Partylist Representative Perci Cendaña said the Savings and Augmentation Bill was necessary to ensure that savings in the budget would not be appropriated to a purpose that is not in line with the guidelines set forth by Congress in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Nililinaw natin ano ang ‘savings’ at saan lang pwede ito gamitin. Kung agency head ka, hindi ka pwedeng lumabas sa guidelines ng Kongreso. Kung hindi, kaso ang aabutin mo (We are clarifying what is savings and where could it be used. If you're an agency head, you cannot go beyond the guidelines of the Congress. If not, you will have to face a charge),” Cendaña said.

“Under the bill, pwede lang gamitin yung savings para punan yung kakulangan sa pondo ng isang aprubadong proyekto. Bawal gamitin ang pera sa isang proyekto na wala naman sa GAA." Cendaña added.

Akbayan First Nominee Atty. Chel Diokno also reiterated the need to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill to encourage citizens’ vigilance against abuse.

He lamented that requests for information by the public were not being approved, hence the need for institutionalizing the right to information.

“The FOI Bill not only ensures transparency but also accessibility of information from concerned government offices and agencies. Marami tayong natatanggap na reklamo na kahit makatwiran naman ang request at kahit walang kinalaman sa national security ang hinihinging impormasyon o datos ay hindi pa rin ito inaaprubahan at ibinibigay ng ahensya ng gobyerno (We are receiving many complaints that although requests not related to national security, are still being declined by the government)” according to Diokno.

Diokno pointed out that this should not be the system in the government, and the people must provide access to the people to these kinds of information.

"Kapag may access sa impormasyon ang mamamayan, pinalalakas nito ang karapatan at kakayahan nilang panagutin ang pamahalaan, humingi ng mas maayos na serbisyo, at pangalagaan ang mga institusyong demokratiko (If people have access to information, we are upholding their right, they are able to hold the government accountable, ask for better service, and protect democratic institutions),"Diokno said.