THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday said it supports the live streaming of the bicameral conference committee proceedings, which it said will allow the public to monitor discussions on the 2026 budget.
In a statement, the Ombudsman said transparency in legislative deliberations “strengthens public trust and ensures that accountability remains at the heart of governance.” The agency also encouraged such practices of openness, noting that they allow citizens “to better understand and engage with the democratic process.”
“The Ombudsman hopes that this initiative will not be an exception to the rule, but rather a standard practice and the norm moving forward,” the statement added.
Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. announced that the bicameral deliberations would be opened to the public for the first time.
The arrangement, agreed with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino G. Dy III, is intended to make last-minute insertions or amendments to the spending plan visible to the public.
The House of Representatives recently approved its version of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, which included reallocations of funds initially set for flood control projects to education, food security, and healthcare programs.
Mr. Marcos said livestreaming would allow citizens to follow how lawmakers reconcile differences between House- and Senate-approved versions of the budget, describing the bicameral committee as a public hearing.
By opening its doors to public view, the bicameral committee, according to the Ombudsman, affirms that democracy thrives best when its processes are seen, understood, and scrutinized by the very people it serves.
“The Ombudsman commends this initiative as a meaningful step toward a more open, participatory, and responsible government.” — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
