The Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) has requested copies of the National Expenditure Program and General Appropriations Act for fiscal years 2023 to 2025 from the House of Representatives, as well as line items involving infrastructure projects with details of their proponents.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino Dy III, the group of nearly 200 local chief executives advocating for clean governance said the request was done to make records involving taxpayers’ money more accessible to the public.
‘We make this request in the spirit of transparency in the use of public funds and to ensure that allocations reflect the true needs of communities,’ M4GG stated in its letter sent on Thursday night.
‘Having access to these records will help local governments and civil society track implementation, strengthen accountability and uphold public trust in our institutions,’ it added.
The letter was signed by the M4GG’s convenors: Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Sitti Hataman of Isabela City, Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City and Vico Sotto of Pasig City.
Granting the request, the M4GG believes, would set a ‘strong example of open, participatory budgeting’ that prevents the misuse of public resources.
M4GG has exponentially grown since it was formed two years ago – struggling in the early days to recruit even one mayor weekly before 300 new members applied when the flood control scandal erupted.
In an interview with dzRH on Thursday, Magalong said the coalition would continue its crusade against corruption despite the presence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
He said all documents gathered would be turned over to the fact-finding body. M4GG has an existing memorandum of understanding with the ICI.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has officially dropped resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Rizaldy Co from the roll of members.
Co decided to resign from his post amid allegations of ‘insertions’ in the current 2025 national budget and his supposed involvement in the flood control projects corruption scandal.
He is still out of the country.