2027 budget: Congress’ spending plan should be scrutinized – watchdog

MANILA, Philippines — Budget watchdog People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) on Thursday said Congress’ spending plan should have faced greater scrutiny after budget discussions for the legislature were terminated without any questions on the floor. “Scrutiny should be even higher when Congress is deliberating its own budget,” PBC co-coordinator Gybel Agregado told the Inquirer. The watchdog stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the budget-making process. Congress's budget is funded by taxpayers' money, and there is a strong demand for accountability to the public regarding its use. Especially when Congress decides its own budget, it is believed that a stricter check function should be in place than for the budgets of other ministries and agencies. However, in this case, it is pointed out that the process was not sufficient. This observation raises renewed discussions about fiscal discipline in Philippine politics and the governance necessary to ensure public trust.