MANILA — The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to a more participatory and accountable national budget process and clarified the Interim Guidelines on People’s Organizations’ Engagement for the 2026 budget cycle.

House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante said the guidelines are interim and transitional by design, meant to fit within the strict timelines and operational limits of the 2026 budget calendar. “All participating organizations were informed that these mechanisms are not yet the final model, this year is a pilot period to identify bottlenecks, and the House is committed to building a long-term participatory framework based on evidence, experience, and stakeholder feedback,” Abante said.

As of August 24, six civil society organizations (CSOs) submitted complete application requirements and were formally accredited to participate in the 2026 budget deliberations. These are: the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, SafeTravelPH Mobility Innovations Organization, Makati Business Club, Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan, Center for People Empowerment in Governance, and WeSolve Foundation.

Out of 26 CSOs initially contacted, four indicated intent to submit documents soon, two formally deferred participation, and 14 have yet to respond. Abante emphasized that the process has been open, voluntary, and transparent.

“The House is treating this 2026 experience as a valuable baseline for building a more robust framework for 2027 and beyond,” she said, adding that Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the House leadership are committed to documenting lessons, engaging CSOs in post-budget assessments, and crafting a more inclusive framework in future budget cycles.

Abante urged CSOs to continue engaging in the process, emphasizing that “reforms are not handed down—they are built, hand in hand.”