Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, assured the public on Wednesday that the joint congressional oversight committee on public expenditures he is proposing to create will be transparent in its proceedings.</p><p>This was in response to concerns from the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, which said in a statement that the public should “not put much credence” on this committee. </p><p>“How will Congress exercise oversight over the system of ‘allocables’ or congressional allocations for infrastructure that benefit its members? Will the lawmaker proponents investigate themselves?” the bloc, which has three seats at the House, said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/gatchalian-says-98-confident-2026-budget-is-clean-1738"><strong>Gatchalian says &#x27;98% confident&#x27; 2026 budget is clean</strong></a></div><p>Gatchalian said the panel will &quot;call on the executive on the various programs and projects of the executive at pakinggan natin sila.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;Transparent naman to, it will come out in the hearings.”</p><p>Gatchalian said this is the first time the oversight committee will be created even though it is mandated under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). </p><p>He will suggest to Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, to make their panels&#x27; vice chairs members of the oversight committee.</p><p>He and Suansing will be co-chairs.</p><p>“Once we convene, January 26, ima-manifest on the floor yung mga members and the creation of the oversight, then takbo na siya,” he said.</p><p>He said the first thing that the panel will look at will be utilization rates of agencies as well as underutilization, or the failure to implement budget items that have already been funded.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/28/house-senate-sign-bicam-report-on-2026-national-budget-1807"><strong>Bicam report on &#x27;people-centered&#x27; 2026 national budget signed</strong></a></div><p>“So meron din kaming field work to look at yung actual implementation ng project. And then meron din kaming hearing. Nasabi ko nga kanina isa sa mga titignan namin yung bottom-up process ng budget,” he continued.   </p><p>Sen. Imee Marcos, a vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, supports the creation of the oversight committee.</p><p>“I think that’s another good move. But we have to be very, very specific and strategic about its use,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PENSION, BONUS OF GOV&#x27;T EMPLOYEES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Gatchalian also said the pension and bonuses of government employees will not be affected by the veto of the P43.2-billion Payment of Personnel Services Requirements item.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/2/-unfair-misrepresentation-more-house-members-reject-leviste-s-allegation-of-p2-m-christmas-bonus-1953"><strong></strong></a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/2/-unfair-misrepresentation-more-house-members-reject-leviste-s-allegation-of-p2-m-christmas-bonus-1953"><strong>‘Unfair, misrepresentation’: More House members reject Leviste’s allegation of P2-M Christmas bonus</strong></a></div><p>He said the P27 billion allotted for the performance bonus is intact in the GAA, as well as the P147 billion for pension.</p><p>&quot;Ang maaapektuhan dito yung pagkuha ng tao. Personnel, sa personnel side. Pero yun na nga, nagra-rightsizing naman tayo and worst comes to worst kung kailangan, puwede naman gamitin ang contingency fund ng Pangulo,” Gatchalian explained.</p>

<p>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, assured on Wednesday that the joint congressional oversight committee on public expenditures he is proposing to create will be transparent in its proceedings.</p>

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, assured on Wednesday that the joint congressional oversight committee on public expenditures he is proposing to create will be transparent in its proceedings.

Gatchalian: Proceedings of proposed joint congressional oversight committee will be transparent

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Gatchalian: Proceedings of proposed joint congressional oversight committee will be transparent

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 07, 2026 05:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Sherwin Gatchalian

Joint congressional oversight committee

2026 National budget

Bonus

Pension

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