Non-Negotiable’: Lawmaker Demands Full Disclosure of 2026 Budget Allocations Before House Vote

A Navotas City lawmaker is calling for the full and public disclosure of all budget allocations under the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) before members of the House of Representatives cast their votes.

Rep. Toby Tiangco stressed that transparency is “non-negotiable,” urging House leadership to release a detailed breakdown of allocations per congressional district and per party-list ahead of the December 29 budget vote.

Tiangco said lawmakers must be able to review how public funds are distributed before approving the national budget, especially allocations coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Without disclosure, he warned, Congress would have no way of verifying whether certain districts or party-list groups received disproportionate increases.

He added that the information should be posted on the official Congress website, including not only the amounts per district and party-list, but also the specific programs and projects where the funds will be spent.

Tiangco noted that concerns over transparency in party-list allocations were already raised in previous budget cycles, where there was no clear public accounting of how much funding each group received. With bicameral deliberations already concluded, he said there is no justification for withholding the data.

According to the lawmaker, full disclosure before the vote is essential to ensure accountability, informed decision-making, and public trust in Congress’ handling of the national budget.