Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña on Monday said civil society groups were barred from entering the hall for the House of Representatives’ budget hearing, despite interim guidelines allowing their participation issued earlier that day.“I’ve received reports from colleagues that they were not allowed inside Romualdez. So benchwarmer lang po ba sila na iaacknolwedge natin sa simula tapos di naman pala makakapagparticipate meaningfully,” Cendaña said during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing.“I think their absence in this room right now delivers a very strong message as to what kind of participation is expected to them given the policy and guidelines that have been published this morning,” he added. House Committee on Appropriations Chair Mikaela Suansing responded that no group was blocked from entering the hearing.“We definitively did not bar any of the civil society organizations from transferring from the plenary to Romualdez. Actually the committee secretary has been coordinating with the security to make sure they are ushered into Romualdez from the plenary,” Suansing said.“I would like to apologize for miscommunication probably on the transfer from the plenary to Romualdez,” she added.Suansing added that civil society groups still have avenues to participate in the budget process, such as the people’s budget review and weekly feedback sessions.An hour after Cendaña raised the issue, Suansing acknowledged the presence of several civil society organizations, including representatives from the People’s Budget Coalition.

Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña on Monday said civil society groups were barred from entering the hall for the House of Representatives’ budget hearing, despite interim guidelines allowing their participation issued earlier that day.

Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña on Monday said civil society groups were barred from entering the hall for the House of Representatives’ budget hearing, despite interim guidelines allowing their participation issued earlier that day.

Cendaña: Civil society groups allegedly denied entry to DBCC briefing

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Cendaña: Civil society groups allegedly denied entry to DBCC briefing

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2025 11:47 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

budget hearing

Akbayan

Perci Cendana

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