Transparency should be an asset, not a liability. 

The Senate of the Philippines has signaled the 2026 national budget deliberation process to be open to the public on June 30, following the controversial 2025 budget cycle last year. This decision is what our country, the Philippines, needs right now because Filipino citizens have every right to know where their money is being spent, to better understand the forging of national laws and policies, and to maintain a united and participatory nation.

The two “controversial” 2023 and 2025 national budgets paved the way for the rising demand by Filipino citizens for deliberations conducted by the bicameral conference committee, or “bicam”, to be publicized. On the national budget for 2023, the House’s open discussions on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) brought back attention and criticism of the public toward the allocation of confidential funds to civilian agencies, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd), which was formerly led by Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Moreover, concerns were also raised after the PhilHealth subsidy was stripped from the 2025 national budget, as well as the allocations that favored infrastructure over education despite constitutional provisions that prioritize education and blank allocations in the bicam report signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In light of these issues, is it still reasonable to question the need for government transparency?

 It is the very right of Filipino citizens to know where their money is being spent. However, even with committee hearings being live-streamed and open to the media, the public often still raises concerns about the opaque nature of the bicameral legislature. 

According to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., “Our kababayan have every right to know how their money is spent, and their active participation helps ensure that their elected representatives remain responsive and accountable to the people who entrusted us with this responsibility.” 

Public scrutiny is vital to good democratic governance. Through this, the relationship between the government and the people will be strengthened, every decision made will be transparent, and all authorities will be under the watch and held accountable for their actions.

Furthermore, the openness of bicameral talks is for the better understanding of people about the forging of national laws and policies. Bicameral talks should not just be limited to budget deliberations, but also to other matters as well. According to the Inquirer, even though bicam reports or final versions of bills are available to the public, meetings are usually held exclusively with members of both Houses. It is during these closed-door meetings that most bill revisions are conducted, which makes the “open bicam” policy more reasonable, as shouted by the majority of people, as well as supported by most of the House representatives, particularly Senator Ping Lacson and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The open bicam policy would be a game changer in governance, especially in legislation, to maintain a united and participatory nation. Tingog partylist Representative Jude Acidre stated that they are united with those proposing a more open bicameral conference committee, whether on issues like the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or the national budget, or any policies being formed in Congress. 

This step well signals a new mentality in the government that will take a turn in the way their governance, especially in terms of legislation, is being conducted. With this policy, every step in Congress is put out in the light that enables people to take part in the process, and to scrutinize the actions and decisions of their elected leaders, which makes good democratic governance.

Therefore, the open bicam policy should not only be practiced during the present Congress, rather it should be made permanent for the following Congress. Embracing this new practice brings our country closer to a united nation where the government and its citizens share no opacity, but only a transparent nature that strengthens understanding. 

Transparency belongs in every good system—it is an asset, not a threat.