It’s the final budget season under President Rodrigo Duterte. Following the Commission on Audit’s reports flagging multibillion-peso pandemic expenses, the ongoing budget debates in Congress demand even more scrutiny.
What can Filipinos do to help monitor the budget? What are the available avenues and mechanisms for Filipinos to be part of the budget process and help influence policy decisions that will address the needs of communities on the ground?
In the fourth episode of “#CourageON: Tumindig, Makialam, Kumilos,” we tackle what Filipinos can do to be heard during budget season, as well as the ways they can help hold government accountable.
The community show, organized by Rappler’s civic engagement arm MovePH in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, aims to put the spotlight on pressing issues in the Philippines and the ways we can take collective action on them.
The fourth episode titled “From preparation to monitoring: What Filipinos can do to watch the budget” will go live on September 18 at 4 pm. Participants who want to learn about civic participation in the budget process can also join the live session on Zoom by registering here:
The show has two segments and features the following guests:
SEGMENT ONE: How can civil society influence the budget preparation process during the pandemic?
- Joie Cruz, founder of #KamiNaman website and Limitless Lab
- Zy-za Suzara, executive director of Institute for Leadership, Empowerment and Democracy
- Marivic Raquiza, co-convenor of Social Watch Philippines
SEGMENT TWO: How can we hold government agencies accountable?
- Amelia Mancera, coordinator of G-Watch Southern Leyte and member of G-Watch Advisory Board
- Katreena Chang, policy research and civic engagement of Move as One Coalition
- Dr. Joshua San Pedro, co-convenor of Coalition for People’s Right to Health
The show will be hosted by Rappler’s community lead Jules Guiang.
You can also check out the other episodes of the “#CourageON: Tumindig, Makialam, Kumilos” community show here:
- WATCH: #CourageON: Tumindig, makialam, kumilos
- #CourageON: From our ancestral heritage to elections, the issues we shouldn’t forget
- #CourageON: Climate crisis and a pandemic
– Rappler.com
MovePH, the civic engagement arm of Rappler, is open to co-present this episode with like-minded organizations. Feel free to send a partnership query to move.ph@rappler.com.