The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday expressed its full support for the decision of the Bicameral Conference Committee to livestream its proceedings, calling the move a “meaningful step” toward transparency and public accountability.

In an official statement released on October 22, the Ombudsman said the decision to open legislative discussions to public view “strengthens public trust and ensures that accountability remains at the heart of governance.”

“The Office of the Ombudsman welcomes and fully supports the decision of the Bicameral Conference Committee to livestream its proceedings. Transparency in legislative deliberations strengthens public trust and ensures that accountability remains at the heart of governance,” the statement read.

The Ombudsman’s statement reflects President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s earlier announcement on October 15 that the bicameral conference committee meetings for the proposed ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be livestreamed to the public.

The President also confirmed that the House of Representatives and the Senate have agreed to make the budget deliberations open to the public to further transparency among Filipinos.

The Ombudsman emphasized that such practices promote openness and allow citizens to better understand and engage with the democratic process.

“It is hoped that this initiative will not be an exception to the rule, but rather a standard practice and the norm moving forward,” the Office added.

By allowing the public to witness legislative debates firsthand, the Ombudsman said the Bicam affirms that democracy “thrives best when its processes are seen, understood, and scrutinized by the very people it serves.”

The agency concluded by commending the committee’s initiative as a step toward “a more open, participatory, and responsible government.”