Members of Social Watch Philippines and the Alternative Budget Initiative, the hundred-strong consortium of non-government organizations that annually formulate alternative budget proposals for increased spending on social development, today joined the Senate Finance Committee public hearing on Senate Bill 2186 to show support and call for the immediate passage of the Bill.
“We commend the Senate Committee on Finance for immediately acting on Bill 2186 or the People’s Participation on Budget Deliberations Act of 2010. It reflects the Government’s political will to implement a participatory, transparent and accountable budget process,” said former national treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones, SWP lead convenor.
“We hope that the Senate Committee on Finance would accept the SWP and ABI recommendations on how to make the Bill an effective instrument of accountability. This includes the need for a provision on a monitoring and evaluation system so that civil society can help monitor the implementation of the budget,’ Briones said. “These are the same recommendations that we have provided to House Bill 219 which is the House of Representatives’ version of the Act,” she added.
Senate Bill 2186 authored by Senator Teofisto Guingona III and the substitution bill to House Bill 219 which was originally introduced by Congressman Lorenzo Tanada III set the mechanisms for accreditation of NGOs and people’s organizations to participate in budget deliberations in the Senate, House of Representatives and Local Government Units. People will also be consulted in the preparation of agency budgets. The bills grant rights and entitlements to accredited groups such as proposing alternative budgets and alternative sources of financing; participating in budget deliberations at various levels of Government; and serving as resource persons during budget oversight.
Both Bills referred to the Social Watch Philippines and Alternative Budget Initiative’s four years of fruitful experience in forging partnerships with legislators to formulate and lobby for alternative budget proposals for increased allocation for education, health, agriculture and environment.
“SWP and ABI are forever grateful to Senator Guingona and Congressman Tanada for being champions of the people’s crusade for a people-oriented budget process,” Briones said.
Briones further stated that the support which current Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sen. Franklin Drilon gave to SWP ABI in 2006 is gratefully acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Rene Raya of Action for Economic Reforms said that Senate Bill 2186 should also have a provision that will direct the branches of government, the national government agencies and the local government units to disclose their budgets in a timely manner. “The proposed budgets and the expenditures made by government should be immediately posted in websites or barangay halls. This practice will encourage active citizenship and allow people to directly influence decision-making on public funds,” said Raya.
Hazel Tanchuling of Rice Watch and Action Network said that House Bill 219 and Senate Bill 2186 are very important for the marginalized sectors such as the poor farmers. “Farmers remain poor despite years of efforts to end poverty. A law that allows farmers’ groups, women and other vulnerable groups to participate in the budget hearings would help address inequality, which is the main reason why poverty persists,” she said.
“SWP and ABI fully support the Bills on people’s participation in budget deliberations. We offer our presence and information to the Senators and Congressmen to enhance and push for the immediate passage of these bills,” Briones said. “Likewise, we call on every citizen to take an interest in public finance issues because they are taxpayers and they work hard for these public funds. We also call on the media to help in the people’s campaign to push for the immediate passage of these bills,” she said.-30- Leonor Magtolis Briones, SOCIAL WATCH
