Lawmakers urged to push governance reforms as Congress resumes session

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

PHILIPPINE LAWMAKERS should prioritize governance reforms to restore public trust and keep the economy on track, political analysts said over the weekend, as Congress resumes session amid a multibillion-peso graft scandal.

Senators and congressmen face growing pressure to pass measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability after allegations of corruption in public works spending weakened confidence in President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s administration and weighed on investor sentiment.

“This is a genuine make-or-break moment for the Marcos presidency,” Arjan P. Aguirre, an associate political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

He added that the administration should use its influence over Congress to push reforms that address systemic corruption rather than rely on rhetoric.

Congress reconvenes on Jan. 26 as the government seeks to contain the fallout from the scandal, which centers on irregularities in flood control projects involving lawmakers, officials and private contractors.

Analysts said the legislative session would be critical ahead of Mr. Marcos’ State of the Nation Address in July, when he is expected to highlight his administration’s record.

“What is at stake in this congressional session is institutional credibility,” said Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati.

Mr. Tapia said lawmakers should prioritize bills that strengthen transparency in government spending, particularly in infrastructure and procurement.

“This means project-level disclosure by default, including location, unit costs, contractor identity and completion status, supported by geotagged and time-stamped reporting,” he said via Messenger. “Procurement reform must also confront contract concentration, not merely compliance with bidding formalities.”

Calls for tighter oversight intensified after investigators alleged that funds meant for flood mitigation were siphoned off through padded contracts and kickbacks. The controversy has slowed infrastructure spending and raised concerns about governance standards.

“The upcoming congressional sessions should be about cleaning up the mess created by the corruption scandal,” Dennis C. Coronacion, who heads the University of Santo Tomas Political Science Department, said in a Messenger chat.

He said Congress should assert its oversight role, especially as lawmakers prepare to form a joint committee to monitor government disbursements and infrastructure projects.

Mr. Aguirre said President Marcos should press for long-delayed institutional reforms, including a freedom of information law, an anti-political dynasty bill and amendments to election rules governing the party-list system.

“This requires a deliberate use of its integrative power — actively managing the legislative coalition through clear and unequivocal prioritization of bills, certification of urgent measures, explicit public instructions and direct presidential leadership in legislative campaigns,” he said.

Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said lawmakers should also listen more closely to civil society groups that have long pushed governance reforms.

Public trust will not recover without visible changes in how decisions are made and how public funds are monitored, he pointed out.

‘HARD DEADLINES’
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III said the House would fast-track deliberations on the administration’s priority bills to keep the legislative calendar on track.

“We’re not promising miracles, but we are committing to hard deadlines, tighter coordination and a House that treats time as a responsibility,” he said in a statement. “If we want real reforms, we have to deliver with the urgency the public expects from us.”

The Marcos administration has identified 44 priority measures, which it says are meant to attract investment and modernize state institutions. Rep. Marcos, the President’s son, said the House has approved 12 priority bills in 22 session days.

“We will try our best to outdo what we have already accomplished so far,” he said, adding that committees have been instructed to speed up deliberations on agriculture, health, education and social welfare measures.

He said legislation that affects food security, education and healthcare has the most immediate impact on households and should move quickly.

The push to show legislative progress comes as public support for the President weakens. A December survey by Social Weather Stations showed Mr. Marcos’ net trust rating fell to -3 from +7 in September, reflecting growing frustration over corruption and governance issues.

Analysts said sustained reform efforts, rather than headline pledges, would determine whether Congress can restore credibility and prevent the scandal from further undermining the administration’s agenda.