Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said he believes the multibillion-peso confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) proposed under the 2024 spending must be allocated instead to activities that would spur growth given the government’s “very limited” budget.
The Marcos administration sought more than ₱10 billion in CIF for next year, the bulk of which was earmarked under the Office of the President.“Our position is that the very limited government funds should be used for productive purposes,” Balisacan said when asked for his comment during a briefing on Friday.The NEDA official said the government has “so many deficits” in several areas of developmental concerns, such as infrastructure, as well as investments in the social sector.Balisacan said the increase in poverty due to COVID-19 also requires “a lot of attention.”The Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President, both led by Vice President Sara Duterte, have been facing criticisms over their request for CIF amounting to ₱650 million.
READ: VP Duterte defends confidential funds: ‘It should not be constrained by time’
Due to recent issues in the West Philippine Sea, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress agreed to realign the CIFs of agencies not directly engaged in protecting the Philippines against security threats.
