Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco is calling for greater transparency in the proposed 2027 national budget as lawmakers face renewed scrutiny over budget insertions that have cast a shadow over the spending process.
Tiangco said he is leaving the House majority bloc to sit as an independent, saying the move would allow him to more closely examine how government funds are being allocated.
“I still fully support [House Speaker Bojie Dy], but I think I can do my job better sa pag-scrutinize ng budget process kung maging independent ako,” Tiangco said.
His decision came as he questioned why the House’s own budget was not included in pre-plenary scrutiny during the opening hearing on the proposed 2027 national budget. Tiangco said lawmakers should first review how previous allocations were spent and determine the basis for the chamber’s new funding request before the measure reaches the plenary.
“So, bakit hindi po natin siya idaan sa pre-plenary hearing kasi dapat natin malaman kung paano ginastos yung budget ng House ng 2025, paano ginagastos yung 2026 at ano po yung basehan ng 2027 budget proposal,” Tiangco said.
He also questioned whether any law or constitutional provision exempts Congress from the review process, saying the House budget should face scrutiny if there is nothing to hide. Appropriations Chair Mika Suansing said other institutions had also skipped pre-plenary hearings in previous years and that Tiangco’s proposal would be elevated to House leadership.
Tiangco also proposed publishing the budget allocations for each congressional district on the House website to give the public easier access to information on government spending.
The Department of Budget and Management submitted the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 national budget on Aug. 11, beginning congressional deliberations.
The push for greater transparency comes after continued debate over lawmakers’ budget insertions, including a 2025 graft complaint filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers involving ₱241 billion worth of alleged insertions.
