TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre underscored the need for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in national spending during the People’s Budget Review at the House of Representatives.
For the first time, civil society organizations (CSOs) formally joined deliberations on the 2026 National Budget, which Acidre described as a “People’s Budget.”
“The budget is not just a financial document but a reflection of our national priorities and values,” Acidre said, adding that resources must translate into “real, tangible change in people’s lives.”
He also thanked the Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, for expanding spaces for citizen participation in budget deliberations.
The event gathered CSOs, advocates, and watchdogs to present proposals toward a more inclusive and responsive national budget.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
