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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The national budget process in the Philippines remains largely top-down despite 
progress in public financial management reforms, with limited mechanisms for 
meaningful civil society engagement. Many communities, especially those in 
marginalized and underserved sectors, are often left out of budget discussions 
that directly affect their access to services and development programs. 
The national budget is the government’s most powerful instrument for realizing 
development priorities and delivering basic services. To ensure that public funds 
are allocated equitably and used effectively, this measure institutionalizes the 
participation of civil society organizations (“CSO”) in the preparation and 
authorization of the General Appropriations Act (“GAA”). It establishes clear 
accreditation procedures and participatory mechanisms that allow CSOs to access 
budget documents, submit position papers, and be heard during congressional 
deliberations. 
By embedding participatory governance in the national budget process, this bill 
operationalizes the constitutional mandate to ensure transparency and public 
participation in governance,1 upholds the principles of responsible and 
consultative budgeting under Executive Order No. 292 (1987),2 and advances the 
vision of people-centered, fiscally accountable government articulated in the 
Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.3 
1 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 27; Article XIII, Section 16. 
2 Executive Order No. 292, “Administrative Code of 1987,” Book VI, Chapter 2, Section 3. 
3 Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, Chapter 14, pp. 332-334. 
July 31, 2025
12:00 pm
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This bill is filed as a counterpart measure to a Senate bill introduced by Senator 
Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, and is consistent with similar measures filed in both 
chambers in the 20th Congress. Its filing affirms a shared legislative commitment 
to institutionalizing citizen participation in the formulation and authorization of 
the national budget. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL 
SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) IN THE PREPARATION AND 
AUTHORIZATION PROCESS OF THE ANNUAL NATIONAL 
BUDGET, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "People's 
Participation in the National Budget Process Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation and feedback mechanisms 
to promote meaningful and effective participation of CSOs in the preparation and 
authorization of the annual national budget in order to ensure that the annual 
appropriations will be an instrument of development that is reflective of the 
national objectives, strategies and plans beneficial to the people. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
are defined as follows: 
(a) Accreditation – refers to the registration process of CSOs with the
National Government Agencies (“NGAs”) and Government-Owned and 
Controlled Corporations (“GOCCs”), in order to allow them to participate in the 
preparation and authorization of the annual national budget; 
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(b) Accredited CSO – refers to CSOs that have fulfilled the requirements in 
Section 5 of this Act;  
 
(c) Budget Call – refers to the budget document issued by the Department 
of Budget and Management (“DBM”) and sent to all NGAs and GOCCs, which 
contains the policy guidelines and procedures in the preparation of the annual 
budget, including the budget preparation calendar for any given year. The 
issuance of a budget call signals the beginning of the budget preparation phase;  
 
(d) Civil Society Organizations – include non-government organizations, 
cause-oriented groups, people's organizations, cooperatives, trade unions, 
professional associations, faith-based organizations, media groups, indigenous 
peoples movements, foundations, and other citizen groups formed primarily for 
social and economic development, which monitor government projects, engage 
in policy discussions, and actively participate in collaborative activities with 
Government; 
 
(e) Conflict of Interest – refers to a condition which occurs when a CSO or 
any of its key officers are involved in multiple interests which prevent an 
impartial or unbiased attitude towards their participation in the national budget 
process; 
 
(f) Constructive Engagement – refers to a partnership between 
Government and counterpart CSOs marked by sustained dialogue towards 
problem solving while respecting and retaining the focus on assertion for reforms;  
 
(g) Government-Owned or Controlled Corporation – refers to any agency 
organized as a stock or non-stock corporation, vested with functions relating to 
public needs whether governmental or proprietary in nature, and owned by the 
Government of the Republic of the Philippines directly or through its 
instrumentalities either wholly, or, where applicable as in the case of stock 
corporations, to the extent of at least a majority of its outstanding capital stock; 
 
(h) National Government Agency – refers to a unit of the National 
Government, including the Judiciary, both Houses of Congress, and 
Constitutional Offices; and 
 


 
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(i) Participatory Mechanisms – refer to the means by which CSOs can 
participate meaningfully and effectively in the government process of 
formulating and authorizing an annual national budget that is responsive to the 
needs of the different sectors in our society.    
             
SEC. 4. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all NGAs and GOCCs whose 
budget is included in the Annual GAA. 
 
SEC. 5. Accreditation. – The application for accreditation for the Senate, 
the House of Representatives, the Judiciary, and the Constitutional Offices shall 
be filed at the Office of the Secretary, the Secretary-General, the Supreme Court 
Clerk of Court, and the Office of the Chairman, respectively. The application for 
accreditation for other NGAs and GOCCs may be filed at their respective regional 
or central office. 
 
The application form shall be prescribed by each office and the application 
for accreditation shall be accompanied by the following documents: 
 
(a) Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the applicant CSO; 
 
(b) Certificate of Registration and/or other similar documents, issued by 
an appropriate government agency tasked to register civil society organizations, 
such as but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of 
Labor Relations, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, 
Insurance Commission, and the Cooperative Development Authority. 
 
(c) The list of officers, directors, trustees, and members; 
 
(d) Duly audited financial statements for the past three (3) years showing 
the assets and liabilities of the organization;   
    
(e) Full disclosure of the sources of funds; and   
 
(f) Full disclosure of service contracts with other NGAS, CSO, private 
corporations, other CSOs, and other engagements which may result in conflict of 
interest.  
 


 
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Upon approval of the application, the head of the concerned NGA or 
GOCC shall issue the certificate of accreditation. This shall be valid for three (3) 
years following its issuance, except for the certificate of accreditation issued by 
the Senate and the House of Representatives, which shall be valid for the entire 
term of the Congress under which such certificate of accreditation was issued. 
 
No application for accreditation shall be disapproved, except upon due 
notice and hearing. The decision of the head of the concerned NGA or GOCC 
shall be rendered within twenty (20) working days from the time of the filing of 
the application. Failure to act on the application shall be deemed an automatic 
approval of the application for accreditation of the concerned CSO, and the 
issuance of a certificate of accreditation shall necessarily ensue.    
 
SEC. 6. CSO Participation. – In the interest of transparency, CSO 
participation shall be a component in the preparation and authorization of the 
annual national budget. All NGAS and GOCCs shall be required to formulate and 
adopt guidelines outlining the mechanism for the accreditation and active 
participation of the CSOs in the preparation and authorization of the annual 
national budget. 
 
The DBM shall ensure that the NGA or GOCC has complied with the 
abovementioned requirement.  
 
Accredited CSOs, through their duly authorized representatives, shall be 
allowed to participate as resource persons in the budget hearings to be conducted 
by the appropriate Committees of each House of Congress, provided that they 
comply with the guidelines to be issued by both Houses of Congress. 
 
Notwithstanding their participation in the budget hearings to be 
conducted by the appropriate Committees of each House of Congress as provided 
in the preceding paragraph, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate shall schedule one 
hearing day for the presentation of the positions of accredited CSOs on the 
budget. 
 
SEC. 7. Privileges and Incentives. – An accredited CSO shall enjoy the 
following privileges and incentives: 


 
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(a) To have similar participation rights accorded to NGOs in the Local 
Development Councils pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", in setting the direction 
of economic and social development, coordinating development efforts within its 
territorial jurisdiction;      
 
(b) To receive notices and participate as resource person through its duly 
authorized representatives in any regular and consultative public meetings, 
hearings, conferences, and dialogues on matters related to the preparation and 
authorization of the annual national budget; 
 
(c) To be allowed to observe at the budget deliberations and at the 
bicameral conference; 
 
(d) Access to copies of the budget proposals submitted by the NGAs or 
GOCCs to the DBM; 
 
(e) To provide position papers to the DBM on the budget proposal of 
NGAs or GOCCs submitted pursuant to the budget call; 
 
(f) To submit its own alternative or proposed budget or position paper; 
 
(g) Access to issuances such as, but not limited to, policy orders, circulars 
and memoranda that are related to the budget; 
 
(h) Access to the documents prepared by the DBM for submission to 
Congress by the President as a basis for the General Appropriations Bill required 
under Article VII, Section 22 of the Constitution; 
 
(i) To present written proposals on projects and activities of the 
government entities whose budget is under deliberation; and 
 
(j) Immediate access to stenographic notes and committee reports released 
by both Houses, including the bicameral conference committee report. The 
bicameral conference committee meetings and all other meetings related or 
associated thereto shall be recorded and be made accessible immediately to 


 
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promote transparency and to allow members of both Houses to easily determine 
how conflicting provisions in the proposed national budget were reconciled or 
resolved prior to the submission thereof for ratification by both Houses of 
Congress.          
 
SEC. 8. Notice to CSOs. – Notice to CSOs may be sent through electronic 
mail, facsimile machine, postal mail, and by posting at the website of the NGA or 
GOCC concerned. Any of the said modes of sending notices shall be deemed 
compliance to the requirements under Section 7(a) of this Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Conflict of Interest. – It is the responsibility of the CSO to inform 
the NGA or GOCC of a conflict of interest in their work with the concerned 
agency, if and when such a situation arises. 
 
However, if the NGA or GOCC deems that the CSO has a conflict of 
interest with the work of such NGA or GOCC, the latter shall allow the applicant-
CSO to explain and prove that the conflict of interest does not exist. 
 
SEC. 10. Cancellation of Accreditation. – Upon receipt of a verified 
complaint in writing, which charges the holder of a certificate of accreditation of 
having procured their certificate of accreditation by fraud or deceit, the head of 
the NGA or GOCC shall notify and serve a copy of the complaint to the CSO 
concerned, who shall be given an opportunity to be heard. 
 
Inaction by the NGA or GOCC on the said complaint within twenty (20) working 
days from the receipt of such complaint shall be deemed a dismissal of the 
complaint against the CSO involved. 
 
SEC. 11. Non-Accredited CSOs. – Non-accredited CSOs may still 
participate in the budget process by submitting position papers for the 
consideration of the NGA or GOCC and by attending and observing public 
consultations. They may be invited to expound on their critique or proposals 
when said institutions deem it fit. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
deprive non-accredited CSOs of the rights, privileges, and incentives accorded to 
them by the Constitution, existing laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
and other issuances. 
 


 
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SEC. 12. Public and Timely Disclosure of Budget Documents and Other 
Related Data. – For CSOs to participate in an informed manner, the NGA or 
GOCC shall post on their websites or other public posting areas, budget 
documents to which CSOs shall have access, as provided for under Section 7 of 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining part or provisions not 
otherwise affected shall remain in force. 
 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. – Any law, decree, ordinance, administrative 
circulars not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, 
repealed, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,