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Media ReleasesSWP appeals to Pres. Duterte to strongly push for mandatory participatory mechanisms in the Budget Reform Bill | 22 Jul 2018
SOCIALWATCH PHILS·SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2018 Social Watch Philippines appeals to Pres. Duterte to strongly push for mandatory participatory mechanisms in the Budget Reform Bill
Social Watch Philippines (SWP) appealed to President Rodrigo #Duterte to unequivocally mention in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) #2018SONA the importance of having mandatory participatory mechanisms in the #BudgetReformBill (BRB) which already passed the House and will be tackled by the Senate of the Philippines on resumption of sessions. SWP is a civil society group composed of various sectoral organizations that monitors government expenditures vis-à-vis its human development commitments among which is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the group has acknowledged the effort of the government to have a stricter rules for the efficient use of public resources with the cash-based budgeting, what they are more concerned of is the dilution of the mandatory participatory provisions in the BRB version that was passed by the House of Representatives and its similar absence in the Senate version that was sponsored by Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Joel Villanueva. "The President's creation of a specific Cabinet Cluster on Participatory Governance rings hollow when we look at the budget which is the ultimate expression of government's intent. At best, the bill just talks about the option of consulting CSOs and people's organizations. It does not mandate it," said SWP Co-convenor Jessica Reyes-Cantos. In the midst of all the federalism talks, SWP members from all over the country emphasized the importance of an active, intelligent and meaningful participation at all levels of budget and public finance process. This was a reverberating call during their National Assembly held in the Hive Hotel and Convention Place last 19-20 July 2018. Early this year with the vote of 158-8 with one abstention, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 7302 or “An Act to Reform the Budget Process by Enforcing Greater Accountability in the Public Financial Management (PFM), Promoting Fiscal Sustainability, and Strengthening Congress’ Power of the Purse, Instituting an Integrated PFM System, and Increasing Budget Transparency and Participation”. ### #BudgetReformBillBantayan! #PeoplesParticipation #ParticipatoryBudgeting #SocialWatchPH21yrs _______________ Social Watch Philippines (SWP) is a network of over a hundred civil society organizations and individuals engaged in research and lobby efforts in holding the government accountable for the fulfillment of national, regional and international commitments to eradicate poverty and carry out social, economic, and gender justice. SWP promotes people-centered sustainable development by proactively monitoring the progress and delivery of social commitments forged by the government and influencing the outcomes of policy decisions through citizen's participation in public finance. Isagani R Serrano Marivic Raquiza Jeck Reyes-Cantos Rene Raya Janet Crndng Mars Mendoza Sheic Sims Dhel Lubyo AKTIB Philippines Carol Claudio Tax Tobacco to the Max Elijah San Fernando RoseAnn Batuigas Maria Luz Anigan Back to top |
