Senate to upload 2027 budget documents on transparency portal – Gatchalian
The Senate will upload all relevant documents and information on the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 national budget to its online transparency portal, allowing Filipinos to examine government spending proposals and congressional budget amendments.
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Courtesy of Senate of the Philippines
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian made the commitment amid growing calls from business organizations and civil society groups for greater transparency in the national budget process.
“We will continue the transparency reforms by uploading all relevant information to the Senate Transparency Portal,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate Budget Transparency Portal provides public access to budget documents, committee schedules, hearing recordings and transcripts. It also allows citizens to monitor deliberations and examine changes to proposed government allocations.
The portal has incorporated links to independent budget analysis tools developed by civic technology group BetterGov.PH and the People’s Budget Coalition.
These tools use data analytics, artificial intelligence and computer coding to compare the original National Expenditure Program (NEP) with the version approved by the House of Representatives.
Gatchalian earlier acknowledged the contribution of technology volunteers in accelerating budget reviews that previously required one to two weeks.
The transparency initiative comes as the Senate scrutinizes 6,271 infrastructure projects added to the House-approved budget that were not included in the executive branch’s original proposal.
Gatchalian also committed to removing projects without sufficient supporting documents, including feasibility studies, programs of work and local government resolutions.
Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said civil society organizations would also be invited to observe bicameral conference committee proceedings as an additional safeguard against questionable budget insertions.
The Senate is scheduled to begin plenary debates on the proposed budget on November 23.
The public can access the Senate Budget Transparency Portal at https://budget-transparency-portal.senate.gov.ph/.
Key points
- The Senate will upload all relevant documents and information on the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 national budget to its online transparency portal, allowing Filipinos to examine government spending proposals and congressional budget amendments.