Groups Demand Transparent Philippine Budget

The Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), a nationwide consortium of citizens’ groups which pioneered civil society engagement in the Philippine national budget process, challenged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Bicameral Committee to finalize the 2009 national budget with the full knowledge and participation of the public.

Former national treasurer Leonor Briones, who is the convenor of Social Watch Philippines (SWP) which initiated the ABI, pointed out that the final form and content of the national budget are determined by the Bicameral Committee. During the deliberations, administration members of the Committee constantly keep in touch with the President. Yet, the budget deliberations are not public and there are no records of the deliberation.

“The national budget is actually finalized behind closed doors and without public knowledge and participation,” Briones said. “Where is genuine democracy if people are not able to fully participate in determining public expenditures and allocations for their own development?” she added.

Meanwhile, Rene Raya of Action for Economic Reforms (AER), said that the 50 nongovernment organization members of the ABI nationwide demand that the Department of Budget and Management explain what will happen to the “additional” P200 million funds for the C5 extension project.

“If the “second P200 million budget will not be released, where will the funds go? Will it be categorized as savings of the Department of Budget and Management and will be used for other projects?,” Raya said. “They should also explain who benefitted from the first release of the P200 million budget,” he added

“We challenge government to prove its political will to protect the welfare of the people. The P200 million fund could finance the construction of 400 classrooms. They should also release all the funds for social development programs which have not yet been released,” said Raya.

The ABI, which was presented as one of the best practices on budget advocacy in the World Social Forum in Brazil and the Asian Regional Workshop in Cambodia recently called attention to questionable items in the proposed 2009 budget from the Office of the President. This includes the Special Purpose Funds which ate up more than half of the proposed 2009 national budget and are not subject to the usual performance-based budgeting; and P27.67 billion “Over-all Savings” with no concrete definition, description and provision.

“It is the moral obligation of both the Office of the President, Senate and Congress to make the budget process fully transparent and participative. They are now holding hearings and deliberations for the 2009 national budget. They owe it to the whole nation to finalize it with transparency,” Raya said.