House Bill No. 9298 aims to require the Commission on Appointments (CA) to promptly act on nominations submitted by the President and to automatically designate the highest-ranking official in an acting capacity while Congress is in session.
According to the explanatory note of the proposed measure, the bill seeks to address what the authors described as the repeated bypassing of the constitutional requirement for Commission on Appointments scrutiny of key executive officials.
The lawmakers said appointments to major Cabinet positions and executive offices requiring CA confirmation have allegedly remained unconfirmed for extended periods while officials continue serving in acting capacities.
The measure comes amid ongoing concerns over government spending and budget utilization, particularly ahead of another round of congressional budget deliberations.
Supporters of the bill argued that several high-ranking officials, including the Executive Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary, Finance Secretary, and Budget Secretary, have exercised significant authority without undergoing confirmation proceedings before the Commission on Appointments.
They stressed that the confirmation process serves as an important constitutional safeguard intended to ensure accountability and transparency in executive appointments.
The lawmakers also pointed to controversies involving public funds, including issues surrounding PhilHealth funds and multi-billion-peso flood control projects, saying stronger institutional checks are necessary to prevent abuse and ensure proper scrutiny of officials handling public resources.
Under the proposed measure, the Commission on Appointments would be required to act on nominations within a specified period, while temporary leadership during congressional sessions would be limited to the highest-ranking career official in the concerned agency.
The bill seeks to reinforce the constitutional principle of checks and balances by limiting the prolonged use of acting appointments in key government positions.