Broadcasting Congress’ budget deliberations live is an effective way to prevent lawmakers from meddling with the national budget, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Tuesday.
‘It’s good that their budget deliberations are now being aired live.’ said Pangandaman in a chance interview before the start of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) hearing, when asked what could be done to prevent lawmakers from dipping their fingers in the national budget.
‘And then there are civil society organizations attending, not just as observers., think they also get the chance to ask questions,’ she added.
She expressed hope that the Congress’ bicameral budget hearings will also be broadcast to the public.
‘It would be good to broadcast all budget deliberations live on the floor, in the committee and hopefully even the bicam sessions as well.’
ICI hearing
Pangandaman went to the ICI after she was invited to provide the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) authoritative input on the National Expenditure Program and the General Appropriations Act.
After the hearing, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said the ICI commissioners also gave the DBM suggestions on how the budget process could be improved.
‘There was an exchange between the ICI and DBM on certain improvements that could be undertaken by the DBM,’ said Hosaka.
He, however, did not specify what these suggestions for improvements were. /gsg