​The House of Representatives has started conducting consultations with civil society leaders as it prepares for an "inclusive" and "transparent" annual budget deliberations.

House Higher Education Committee chairman, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre on Tuesday, Aug. 5, led what he called a productive discussion with various individuals.

The move, he said, was aimed at institutionalizing the public's participation in crafting the 2026 national budget. He said this will have the way for toward greater transparency and accountability in government spending.

The meeting​ was held at the House of Representative​s, where participants showed "energy" and "openness", he said.

“​It is essential if we are to make the national budget process a true reflection of the people’s priorities,” Acidre said.

“We believe that involving civil society groups at the very start of budget discussions will help us craft a national budget that is more responsive, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of our people,​" he added.

Among those present were ​representatives from MoveAsOne Coalition, Foundation for Economic Freedom, We Solve Foundation, Federation of Free Farmers,​ Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, People’s Budget Coalition, ENet Philippines, Jesse Robredo Institute/La Salle,​ Social Watch, Inc., Health Justice, and CODE-NGO.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department​, Romulo Emmanuel Miral, and Head Executive Assistant of the Office of the Speaker​, Muel Romero, also joined in the discussion.

​The talks were in line with House Resolution (HR) No. 94, ​which was introduced by ​House Speaker Martin Romualdez ​and Tingog Party-list representatives. It provides that bona fide people’s organizations and ​non-government organizations may be granted official non-voting observer status in the public hearings of the Appropriations Committee on the national budget and all subsequent general appropriations.

“This is not token participation. We want a system where your voices are heard, your expertise is recognized and your insights are valued to help shape the decisions we make on public spending,” Acidre explained.

The proposal forms part of a three-pronged set of budget reforms pursued by the House under Romualdez​' speakership. These include opening the Bicameral Conference Committee meetings on the budget to the public, abolishing the “small committee”, and granting civil society and NGO representatives official observer status in budget hearings.

“These reforms are meant to take away the shadows from the budget process. We want the people to see what we see, to know what we know and to understand why we make the choices we do,​" Acidre said.

Acidre said the consultation was only the start of a series of engagements with civil society groups. These will include sectoral and regional consultations, to ensure broad representation and participation.