Budget watchdog calls for stricter scrutiny of Congress spending plan

MANILA — The People's Budget Coalition (PBC), a leading fiscal watchdog organization, has expressed alarm over the swift approval of Congress' 2027 budget without substantive floor discussions or questions from lawmakers.

PBC co-coordinator Gybel Agregado emphasized that legislative spending plans should face particularly rigorous scrutiny given the unique position of Congress in approving its own budget. "Scrutiny should be even higher when Congress is deliberating its own budget," Agregado stated, highlighting potential conflicts of interest inherent in legislators allocating funds to their own institution.

The budget discussions concluded without any substantive questioning on the floor, according to the watchdog group. This abbreviated deliberation process has raised concerns among transparency advocates about whether the spending plan received adequate public and legislative review.

Budget transparency has been a contentious issue in the Philippines, with civil society organizations regularly pressing for more detailed scrutiny of government expenditures. The PBC's concerns underscore broader demands from advocacy groups for stricter oversight mechanisms in the budgeting process.

The coalition's position reflects ongoing efforts by civil society to ensure fiscal accountability in Congress spending, particularly as the legislature prepares its operational budget for the coming fiscal year.