The power of the purse belongs to the people, through their representatives in Congress, so their participation and input should be welcomed and encouraged.
This is the message of House Appropriations Chairperson Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles, who on Monday invited the public—especially those living in the provinces—to follow the budget deliberations in Congress and give their comments on how the government’s funds are going to be spent.
Nograles announced that all budget hearings to be conducted in the House of Representatives (HOR) would be livestreamed in his Facebook Page, and that the public would be welcome to share their sentiments regarding how agencies planned to use their budget.
“It’s true that the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, or the task of determining where to allot government funds,” explained Nograles, a lawyer who graduated from the Ateneo School of Law.
“But it is important for our people to realize that those of us in Congress wield this power because we were elected by our constituents to represent their interests and to fight for their welfare,” added the three-term congressman from Davao.
“Pera ito ng bayan, this is the money of the people, and these budget deliberations are a means by which the people—through their representatives in Congress—decide how to spend their money. They can and should have a say in how government uses its funds.”
“It is important for our people to realize that those of us in Congress wield this power because we were elected by our constituents to represent their interests and to fight for their welfare.”
Nograles said his goal as Appropriations Chair is to pass a “pro-people, pro-probinsyano budget” that was consistent with the policy agenda of the President, and that input from the public could help accomplish this goal.
The budget deliberations begin on Tuesday, July 31. The first agencies to face Congress will be the Department of Budget and Management, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Finance, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“Pass a “pro-people, pro-probinsyano budget” that was consistent with the policy agenda of the President.”
