Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senate of the Philippines at the GSIS Buidling in Pasay City.   Jonathan  Cellona ABS-CBN News

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Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175125319613220160614-senate-building-JC-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate of the Philippines at the GSIS Buidling in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Senate on Monday welcomed calls to increase transparency in the deliberations of the Bicameral Conference Committee, following House Speaker Martin Romualdez’ expression of support to opening it to the public with the goal of institutionalizing transparent budget process.</p><p>According to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., “[c]alls to increase transparency in the bicam are always welcome.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/4/senate-ratifies-bicam-report-on-government-optimization-2058">Senate ratifies bicam report on government optimization</a></div><p>&quot;The Senate is open to serious proposals that will enhance public access and understanding of the crafting of the national budget,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>Bantug said both chambers of Congress are responsible to make the process transparent. He also welcomed public scrutiny and participation in the process. </p><p>“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,” Bantug said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/22/another-house-member-says-there-were-blank-entries-in-bicam-budget-report-2042">Another House member says there were ‘blank’ entries in bicam budget report</a></div><p>Sen. Imee Marcos agreed in making the bicam open.</p><p>“I am also one in advocating transparency in the budget process without compromising  the power of the purse of Congress,” Marcos said in a statement. </p><p>The senator recalled how she &quot;stood up in plenary to voice out my concerns on the lack of transparency in the approval of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/19/marcos-shoots-down-new-bicam-meet-to-amend-2025-budget-bill-wala-sa-procedure-yan-1251">Marcos shoots down new bicam meet to amend 2025 budget bill: &#x27;Wala sa procedure ‘yan&#x27;</a></div><p>Incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who starts his term at 12 noon on Monday, said he has long called for openness in the bicam deliberations. </p><p>“Dati ko pang ipinaglalaban sa Senate nun na gawing bukas sa publiko, or at least sa mga accredited NGOs at CSOs, pati sa media ang bicameral conference ng budget measure. Isa sa 10 priority bills ko na ipa-file starting June 30 ang isang bill para gawing transparent ang bicam ng national budget,” Lacson said in a statement.</p><p>He said he hoped there would be a counterpart bill in the House of Representatives.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Az0Y-af1Sk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>According to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., calls to increase transparency in the bicam "are always welcome."</p>

According to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., calls to increase transparency in the bicam "are always welcome."

Senate open to making bicam deliberations more transparent

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Senate open to making bicam deliberations more transparent

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 30, 2025 11:23 AM PHT

Read More:

senate

bicam

bicameral conference committee

renato bantug

martin romualdez

imee marcos

ping lacson

transparent

politics

budget

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