Members of the House of Representatives open the 2nd regular session of the 19th Congress on July 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures has yet to convene under the 20th Congress as of Tuesday, according to House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing.
Section 113 of the general provisions of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 states the committee will monitor agencies’ compliance with requirements or conditions in the utilization of public funds under the act.
Suansing said the House chose to convene the Infrastructure Committee, which investigated flood control projects, before this one.
“Ito pong Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures, hindi pa po naco-convene para po sa 20th Congress. Ang dahilan po ay dahil nagkaroon po ng pagkakataon na nauna po kasing kinonvene ‘yung Infra Comm. So medyo nagsabay-sabay po kasi ‘yung mga oversight committees na pareho po ‘yung intensyon na kanila pong babantayan,” Suansing said.
Suansing continued, “So ang assurance po na maibibigay po natin sa atin pong distinguished colleague ay iko-convene po natin soon.”
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According to the GAA, the committee will be co-chaired by the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Appropriations.
The House appropriations panel chairperson could not give a specific date for when they would convene, citing packed schedules in both chambers of Congress for tackling the proposed budget.
“Sabay po ‘yung budget deliberations ng Kamara at ng Senado. Medyo inaayos lang po namin, ng atin pong counterpart sa Senado, si Senator JV Ejercito po… Medyo nabu-busy lang po sa schedule ng budget hearings sa parehong kapulungan,” Suansing said.
Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago expressed dismay over this.
“Nakakadismaya pa rin po na nilalagay natin ang mga mahahalagang seksiyon na ito ngunit hindi ho natin nakikita na tayo ho ay nagiging strikto, na tayo din ay nagiging seryoso sa pagpapatupad ng mga seksiyon na makakatulong sa ‘tin na tiyakin na ang bawat piso napupunta talaga sa serbisyo para sa tao,” Elago said.
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