House to pass a bill allowing non-governmental groups to participate in public hearings

The House of Representatives is set to approve on second reading a bill assuring the participation of civil society or private groups in congressional public hearings and local government units' (LGUs) budget deliberations upon resumption of sessions in January 2012.

House Bill 3773 shall be known as "An Act institutionalizing the participation of Bona Fide People's Organizations (CSOs) in budget hearings and deliberations in Congress, in National Government Agencies (NGAs), and Local Government Units (LGUs)."

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, principal author of the bill, said the proposed law would allow the exercise of the people's right to participate in public decision-making and in the process, enhance accountability on the use of taxpayers' money.

"This will institutionalize people's participation in budget deliberation in national and local levels of government," Tañada said.

Key provisions of the bill mandate that the application for accreditation shall be filed at the Office of the Secretary of the Senate or the Secretary General of the House of Representatives or the Local Sanggunian of Local Government Units.

It authorizes the Secretaries of both chambers of Congress and the respective local sanggunians to cancel the certificate of accreditation of any people's organization (PO) and non-government organization (NGO) which have been found guilty of having procured their certificates by fraud or deceit or through error.

Among the privileges granted to PO and NGO are the right to receive notices of hearings and consultations and/or call for written submissions; participate through duly authorized representatives in regular and consultative meetings or hearings concerning annual budget deliberations; submit its own alternative or position paper and alternative sources of financing on the projects, programs and activities; and present position papers or written proposals.

Likewise, they will be given access to copies of bills or budget proposals from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the local Sanggunian.

Furthermore, the measure directs Congress and LGUs to post on the World Wide Web and on their local bulletin boards pertinent documents of the proposed budget, as enumerated in the measure.

The bill imposes a jail term of three months and a fine of not more than P50,000 to violators.

The co-authors of the bill are Reps. Cresente Paez (Partylist, COOP NATCCO) Benjamin Asilo (1st District, Manila), Cinchona Gonzales (Partylist, CIBAC), Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Partylist, TUCP), Edwin Olivares (1st District, Parañaque), Christopher Co (Partylist, AKO BICOL), Mark Aeron Sambar (Partylist, PBA) and Arnel Ty (Partylist, LPGMA). - Dionisio P. Tubianosa, MRS-PRIB