Budget watchdog flags 'worrying' House tradition on OP budget

The House of Representatives' swift decision to end deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget of the Office of the President (OP) has drawn criticism from a budget watchdog, which warned that the move may have violated the checks and balances enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. On Tuesday, the House appropriations committee voted 37-5 to swiftly conclude debates on the OP's budget proposal. This decision has raised significant concerns from transparency and accountability advocates, who argue that such a hasty approval undermines the legislative body's oversight function. The budget watchdog contends that this practice within the House, often referred to as a 'tradition,' weakens the principle of separation of powers mandated by the constitution. Typically, the budgets of key government offices like the OP are subjected to rigorous scrutiny and thorough deliberation to ensure the proper use of public funds. While acknowledging the existence of this long-standing 'tradition,' the watchdog stressed that it should not supersede constitutional obligations. Concerns have been raised that a lack of transparency could erode public trust and potentially lead to lax fiscal discipline in the future. In the Philippine political system, legislative review of the executive budget is a crucial mechanism to prevent the abuse of power. The House's recent action has sparked doubts about the effectiveness of this mechanism.