Senator JV Ejercito files bills seeking citizen, civil groups' involvement in nat'l budget process

Senator JV Ejercito has filed two measures aimed at institutionalizing civil society organization (CSO) participation in both national and local budget preparation, giving communities a direct say in government spending.

Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, introduced Senate Bill No. 2576 (the Bantay Budget Act) and Senate Bill No. 2577 (the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Act) following consultations with CSOs on their priorities for the proposed 2027 national budget.

"We want your participation to have a meaningful place in the scrutiny of the proposed budgets of our national government agencies, in the questions officials are asked to answer, and in the priorities we put forward," Ejercito told CSO representatives.

"Mahalaga ang inyong ambag dahil marami sa inyo ang direktang nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga komunidad. Your experience helps us assess whether the proposed allocations respond to the actual needs of our people," he added.

Bantay Budget Act

Under SB 2576, all national government agencies and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) covered by the annual General Appropriations Act would be required to establish clear guidelines for accrediting CSOs and involving them in budget preparation and authorization.

Accredited groups would be allowed to:

Serve as resource persons during congressional budget hearings;

Submit position papers and alternative budget proposals; and

Provide written recommendations on government projects and activities.

The bill also obligates both the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance to dedicate at least one full hearing day for accredited CSOs to present their views.

To push transparency further, the bill allows CSOs to observe budget deliberations and bicameral conference committee proceedings. Records, stenographic notes, committee reports, and recordings of bicameral meetings would also be made accessible to the public.

Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Act

Meanwhile, SB 2577 seeks to institutionalize Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB)—formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB)—as a permanent component of national budget preparation.

Ejercito noted that the measure establishes a structured process to ensure community-identified projects make it into government spending plans from the local up to the national level.

“Layunin nating magsimula sa mga komunidad ang pagtukoy sa mga proyektong kailangan nila, at magkaroon ng malinaw na mekanismo upang maisama ang mga ito sa pagpaplano at paglalaan ng pondo hanggang sa national level,” Ejercito explained.

The bill mandates barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces to hold at least two annual consultation assemblies with accredited CSOs. The priorities identified will serve as the baseline for Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans, Local Development Investment Programs, and annual local budget proposals.

Additionally, accredited CSOs would be required to make up at least one-fourth of the membership of Local Development Councils across all local government levels.

Ejercito stressed that both bills aim to make civic participation a permanent fixture in Philippine governance, unaffected by changes in administration.

“Ang hangad natin ay maging bahagi ng ating mga institusyon ang pakikilahok ng mamamayan, upang magpatuloy ito sinuman ang nakaupo,” he said.