The House of Representatives will build on the pro-transparency measures introduced last year to ensure that the proposed 2027 national budget is responsive, accountable, and focused on the needs of the Filipino people.

Thus, said House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III over the weekend following the launch of the LegisHear initiative in his hometown of Isabela.

Speaking during a press briefing after the launch of LegisHear in Isabela, Dy said the House is ready to undertake its constitutional duty of scrutinizing the P7.2 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP), which is expected to be transmitted by the Executive before Aug. 14.

The NEP is the precursor to the enventual General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.

The Speaker said public consultations under the newly launched LegisHear program would complement the budget process by giving lawmakers a better understanding of the priorities and concerns of communities across the country before appropriations are finalized.

Asked whether the House was considering additional reforms on top of those it adopted during the deliberations of the 2026 national budget, the Speaker said: "Wala pa naman kaming napag-uusapan, pero nakita naman natin na maayos naman, at nakita nating may reporma. Nakita rin natin na may transparency."

(We have not discussed anything yet, but we saw that things are in order, and we saw reforms. We also saw transparency.)

“Sa tingin ko, lalo pa nating bibigyan ng mahahalagang security measures upang matiyak na ang ating ipapasa na 2027 budget ay talagang maayos."

(In my view, we will further provide important security measures to ensure that the 2027 budget we pass is truly sound.)

Dy said the House remains committed to preserving the reforms the chamber instituted to ensure transparency and accountability in the appropriations process, while continuing to improve safeguards that protect the integrity of the national budget.

Under Dy's leadership, the House pursued a series of budget reforms, including greater transparency in the appropriations process. These include the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) and the livestreaming of the budget bicameral committee deliberations.

The House chief says congressmen remain focused on fulfilling their constitutional mandate and on crafting responsive legislation. Dy says their work is guided not by survey ratings but by the needs and sentiments of the Filipino people.

“Trabaho lang kami. With or without the survey, nakita ninyo kami sa Kongreso. Nakita ninyo kaming tahimik na nagtatrabaho. Ginagawa po namin ang aming mga responsibilidad, at nakikita po namin ang aming mga priorities na dapat naming isulong sa bawat Kongreso.”

(We are just working. With or without the survey, you saw us in Congress. You saw us quietly working. We are fulfilling our responsibilities, and we see the priorities we must advance in every Congress.)

Dy expressed gratitude for the public’s continued trust in the House, and said the institution’s priority has always been to earn that trust through consistent work and meaningful reforms.

“Salamat. Ibig sabihin, hindi naman po kami after sa ganoong mga rating, pero salamat sa pagtitiwala. Kasi kung maaalala ninyo, noong ako ay unang na-elect, talagang ang aming pinagsusumikapan, sa suporta at tulong ng bawat miyembro, ay maibalik ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan,” the Speaker said.

(Thank you. This means we are not after such ratings, but thank you for the trust. Because if you recall, when I was first elected, what we really worked hard for—with the support and help of every member—was to restore the trust of our people.)

The former Isabela governor noted that rebuilding confidence in Congress has been a continuing effort, with lawmakers choosing to focus on legislation that addresses the everyday concerns of Filipinos rather than public perception.

“Kaya naman patuloy po kaming nagsusumikap hanggang ngayon. Alam po namin na marami pa ring pagkukulang, kaya ito ay isang bahagi na nakikita namin upang lalo pang mapaganda at mapalapit tayo, at malaman natin ang tunay na sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan para lalo pang maging maganda ang mga batas na ihahain natin para sa ating bansa,” he stressed.

(That is why we continue to strive until now. We know there are still many shortcomings, so this is part of what we see as a way to further improve, to draw closer, and to understand the true sentiment of our people so that the laws we present for our country will be better.)