Group welcomes Congress’ willingness to engage CSOs in budget deliberations

PUBLIC budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) thanks House of Representatives Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano for his pronouncement to allow the active participation of people’s or civil society organizations (CSOs) in the deliberations of the national budget. They hope that the same can be done in the Senate.

“CSOs can actually provide expertise and unique perspective in formulating people- centered budgeting for the lawmakers,” the group said in a statement. A network of more than a hundred CSOs organized in early 1997 to monitor the implementation of government commitments to social development, the SWP has long been on the forefront of calling for transparency, accountability, and people’s participation in the national budget process.

The group convened the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI) network in 2006, jointly conceptualized with leaders of the opposition in the House of Representatives, in which thenCongressman Alan Peter Cayetano was a member of the House Minority.

The ABI is a long- standing platform and best practice for various groups and individuals to vigorously advocate for increased budget allocations for social development. The SWP-ABI platform involves a partnership between legislators and CSOs formed as Clusters working on education, health and smoke-free environment, social protection, agriculture, environment, as well as crosscutting concerns of gender, climate change, persons with disabilities, and child protection.

For more information, visit http://socialwatchphilippines.org/