House to let NGO's join budget deliberations

MANILA, Philippines — People's organizations and non-government organizations will be allowed to take part in the deliberations on the national budget, the House of Representatives said on Friday. An article on the House of Representatives website (www.congress.gov.ph) said the House Committee on People's Participation deemed it proper to tap POs and NGOs in the deliberations public amid a controversy over insertions being made by lawmakers into the national budget. Several questionable items, including double entries and lump-sum appropriations, were found in the national budget for 2008. The approved measure, dubbed "People's Participation in Budget Deliberations Act of 2008," aims to take the place of House Bills 4735, 4959 and 4977. Authors of the proposal included committee chairman Rep. Guillermo Cua (PL, COOP NATCO), Thelma Almario (Davao Oriental), Teofisto Guingona III (Bukidnon), Lorenzo Tañada III (Quezon), Solomon Chungalao (Ifugao), Edelmiro Amante (Agusan del Norte), Manuel Agyao (Kalinga), Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz (Cebu), and Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu). Under the measure, POs and NGOs will participate in the budget deliberation to ensure the budget will be for development and will reflect national objectives, strategies and plans. The Senate President and House Speaker shall allow the active participation of accredited POs and NGOs in the annual budget deliberations by inviting their duly-authorized representatives as resource persons. "However, this will be subject to internal rules and regulations of the Senate and the House and what their concerned committees may provide," the House article said. Local Development Councils headed by their concerned barangay captains, mayors and governors shall also allow the active participation of POs and NGOs in their annual budget deliberations subject to the limitations provided by statutes and their respective ordinances. Accredited POs and NGOs, through their authorized representatives, shall be allowed to participate in any regular and consultative public meetings, hearings, conferences, dialogues, debates or deliberations sponsored by the Senate and House, including district and other local bodies in relation to the government’s annual national budget. They shall also be allowed to submit their own alternative or proposed budget or position paper with regards to the sector they represent, as well as written proposals on projects and activities of the government agencies whose budget is under deliberation. Also, they shall have access to copies of the bills or budget proposals filed in Congress and in the local governments concerned, and to data coming from these institutions according to the proposal. For accreditation, POs and NGOs shall be required to submit their application forms with the following documents: articles of incorporation; certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and concerned authority agency; affidavit of modus operandi; certificate of good track records and standing from a proper authority; and duly audited financial statements for the past three years showing the assets and liabilities of the organizations. Upon approval of their application by the secretary of the Senate or the House secretary-general, a certification of accreditation valid for three years shall be issued to the concerned POs and NGOs. - GMANews.TV