We, the Makabayan bloc in Congress, denounce President Marcos Jr.’s announcement that he will livestream the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 budget as nothing but desperate propaganda and performative transparency.
“Pakitang-tao lang yan. The pork barrel insertions and bloated Unprogrammed Appropriations remains intact and is not likely to be dismantled when it goes through the Senate and on to the bicam,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said.
“Ang totoo, nakakatawa na ang Pangulo mismo ang nag-anunsyo tungkol sa bicam livestream. He casually preempts a co-equal branch yet when it comes to accountability, he washes his hands of of the plunder of public funds for flood control, laying the blame squarely on Congress,” Tinio emphasized.
“Livestreaming the bicam would be like broadcasting a wrestling match that everyone knows is rigged. The pork allocations of the president and the legislators will survive,” he added.
Kabataan Rep. Renee Co stated that this is all theater designed to deceive the public. “This is part of Marcos Jr’s desperate moves to salvage his tattered credibility on anti-corruption. But he refuses to be accountable for the billions in pork and UA funds that he and his allies have already inserted into the budget.”
“Walang tunay na transparency dito—puro kasinungalingan at palabas lang,” she added.
“Livestreaming won’t remove the pork in the 2026 national budget. Kahit pa i-livestream ang bicam, nandiyan pa rin ang mga unprogrammed appropriations at iba pang anyo ng pork barrel,” said Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago. “Kung seryoso talaga sa transparency, dapat tanggalin ang lahat ng uri ng pork insertions.”
We also note the glaring double standard: they are willing to livestream the bicam but not the proceedings of the so-called Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).
“Bakit kaya handa sila mag livestream ng BiCam pero ayaw nilang isapubliko ang ICI deliberations? The Filipino people are not fooled by these hollow gestures. We deserve real accountability, not press releases and photo ops designed to cover up massive corruption,” she concluded.
The Marcos administration cannot hide behind performative transparency while perpetuating the same corrupt budgetary practices that have robbed our people of genuine public services and development.#
