JV Hopes Senate Reforms Will Boost Trust Ratings

MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito expressed optimism that reforms under the new Senate leadership will improve the chamber's trust ratings. Ejercito, chairman of the finance committee and senior deputy majority leader, said the reforms include transparency measures in scrutinizing the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. He vowed to ensure that confidential funds are limited to government agencies with law enforcement and military mandates, including national security and the Office of the President. "To avoid controversies, we will not give (confidential funds) to civilian agencies," Ejercito said. Agencies with lump sum budget items would be required to submit programs of work to ensure the funding goes to implemented projects and not lost to corruption. "We will ask for all the details so we know how the funds will be used," Ejercito said, hoping the Senate could redeem public trust and prevent a repeat of previous years' budget insertions that led to the flood control scandal. Ejercito noted that the Senate ratings dropped while the House of Representatives improved. He attributed the dip to the chaos that preceded the current leadership of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. "It's the first time in history that the Senate's trust ratings are lower than the House. But hopefully, with the reforms in place, the Senate can regain the trust of the people," Ejercito said. He was reacting to the OCTA Research Group's survey where the Senate’s ratings dropped to 41 percent in a survey conducted from July 4 to 11 from 44 percent in March. Twenty-seven percent said they distrust the upper chamber, up from 24 percent, while undecided respondents remained at 32 percent. The Senate's performance ratings also dropped from 42 percent to 38 percent, with those dissatisfied with its performance increasing from 27 percent to 32 percent. Undecided respondents hardly moved, from 31 percent to 30 percent. The latest OCTA poll coincided with the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6. It captured the tumultuous Senate presidency dispute between Alan Peter Cayetano and Gatchalian, the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s escape, and the arrest of Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta on non-bailable plunder charges. In contrast, the House of Representatives' trust ratings improved in the second quarter. Thirty-eight percent said they trust the House, up from 36 percent, while 28 percent said they distrust it, down from 33 percent. Undecided respondents increased from 30 percent to 33 percent. In terms of performance, 37 percent said they were satisfied with the Lower House, up from 35 percent, while 32 percent were undecided, down from 35 percent. Those who were undecided hardly moved, from 30 percent to 31 percent. OCTA’s second quarter survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent. — Janvic Mateo