Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — A lawmaker on Thursday questioned the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) about the huge amount of confidential and intelligence funds of some government agencies under the proposed ₱5.768 trillion national budget for 2024.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel asked Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman how such funds can help the economy.
\”Para bang pinapayagan ng DBM ang ganitong kalakaran sa iba’t-ibang mga ahensya. Ang question ko po, ano ang naitutulong confidential at intelligence funds sa ekonomiya?\” the solon asked during the start of budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.
[Translation: It seemed that the DBM allows this scheme in different agencies. My question is, how can confidential and intelligence funds help the economy?]
Of the ₱10.14 billion allotted across agencies, ₱5.27 billion is earmarked for intelligence expenses, while ₱4.86 billion is for confidential expenses.
Per agency, ₱4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds will be allocated for the Office of the President.
The Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, both spearheaded by Vice President Sara Duterte, have allocations reaching ₱ 500 million and ₱150 million, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense has ₱1.7 billion in confidential and intelligence funds under the proposed budget.
However, the DBM chief did not completely answer Manuel’s query.
\”Mayroon pong existing guidelines and definition on confidential and intelligence funds. Under the GAA, intelligence funds if used as, shall be released, and disbursed for intelligence activities only,\” Pangandaman tried to explain.
[Translation: There are existing guidelines and definition on confidential and intelligence funds. Under the GAA, intelligence funds if used as, shall be released, and disbursed for intelligence activities only.]
\”Confidential funds are authorized in this act and shall be released and disbursed only upon approval of department secretary, and can be used to, related to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support the mandate or operations of the agency,\” she added.
The Kabataan Party-list representative also asked why the Office of the President needs to have intelligence funds.
Pangandaman briefly responded: \”For Office of the President, mayroon po silang (they have) PSG, Presidential Security Group.\”
