Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco formally questioned the abrupt rescheduling of the plenary deliberation on Congress’ proposed ₱27.89-billion budget after it was moved from Sept. 24 to Sept. 17, while he was out of the country, and ended without a single lawmaker raising a question.
Tiangco, one of the House’s most vocal critics of its budget, was abroad when the deliberation was held. After returning, he asked Deputy Speaker Janette Loreto-Garin, who was presiding over the session, why Congress was moved ahead of government offices originally scheduled for Sept. 18, 21, 22 and 23.
House leaders said other agencies had also been rescheduled, later naming the Department of Tourism, Philippine Statistics Authority and Congress. Tiangco questioned that explanation, noting that the DOT was moved to a later date while Congress was advanced by seven days.
Tiangco said that when the deliberation schedule is adjusted, offices closest to an available slot are typically moved first. Advancing an item originally set later in the calendar, he said, disrupted the sequence lawmakers had prepared for.
“Kapag nag-uusog, ang kinukuha ’yung pinakamalapit. For what reason? Para makapaghanda po, hindi lang ’yung departamento, kundi pati rin ’yung mga kongresista,” Tiangco said.
Garin told Tiangco that the schedule was set by the House Committee on Appropriations and discussed within the committee rather than determined on the plenary floor.
Tiangco’s motion to reopen the deliberations was ruled out of order. Garin later said House rules allow only a member who voted with the majority to seek reconsideration.
The ₱27.89-billion allocation covers the broader Congress of the Philippines, including the Senate, House of Representatives, Commission on Appointments, and the Senate and House electoral tribunals.
Documents reviewed by PGMN show that the Congress budget was initially set for Sept. 24. The House later revised its calendar, moving the deliberation to Sept. 17 at 10 a.m., with the official update posted at 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 16.
A notice reviewed by PGMN shows lawmakers were emailed about the change at 2:05 a.m. on Sept. 17, only hours before the rescheduled session.
In August, Tiangco had asked the House why it did not undergo the same pre-plenary review required of other agencies and sought details on how its 2025 and 2026 allocations were spent and how its 2027 proposal was determined.
When the roughly ₱27.9-billion Congress budget was taken up Sept. 17, no questions or objections were raised.
House Committee on Accounts Chair Maria Carmen Zamora sponsored the proposal. Afterward, Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas said no minority member would ask questions. Philreca Party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus then moved to end sponsorship and debate, with the majority seconding the motion.
The deliberation lasted about six minutes, from 10:30 a.m. to 10:36 a.m., before ending without a single interpellation.
Internal House budget matters fall under the Committee on Accounts, chaired by Zamora, with Tingog Rep. Yedda Romualdez—wife of the now-jailed Martin Romualdez—serving as senior vice chair.
