Escudero wants LGUs' participation in budget hearings
According to his office, Escudero made the suggestion to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance.
'Kung mga division heads ng maliliit na bureaus ay dumadalo sa budget hearings, bakit ang mga pinuno ng mga probinsya at malalaking lungsod ay hindi?' Escudero asked.
(If division heads of small bureaus attend budget hearings, why don't the heads of provinces and big cities?)
'They have been sidelined for too long. It is now time to give them a seat at the table,' he added.
The Senate leader emphasized that the feedback of local chief executives 'is too important to be ignored,' saying that they can even help 'vet and verify' whether the projects in the proposed budget truly respond to the needs of their constituents.
'The perspectives of leaders on the ground are invaluable in determining which projects are necessary and which are not. They can also help flag possible overpricing in the appropriations being requested,' Escudero said.
'One way to achieve this is by requiring the approval or endorsement of the respective Provincial Development Councils and the Regional Development Councils for all development projects so that, at the very least, each LGU will be informed and notified of the proposed programs and activities of the national government in the ensuing year,' he added.
On August 13, the Department of Budget and Management turned over the copy of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program to the Senate, which was personally received by Escudero. The same was also submitted to the House of Representatives.
That same day, the Senate adopted in the plenary Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which seeks to establish transparency and accountability in the passage of the national budget. –VBL, GMA Integrated News
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