Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8)— Sen. Risa Hontiveros is eyeing the prohibition of augmenting confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under the contingent fund for the proposed 2024 budget.
\”As a matter of fiscal prudence, we like to include the augmentation of the CIF as a prohibition under the Contingent Fund,\” Hontiveros said on Wednesday, the first day of the Senate’s plenary debates for the proposed 2024 budget.
When asked if he’s willing to discuss the proposal, Sen. Sonny Angara, the 2024 budget bill sponsor, answered: \”Yes, I think there’s merit in that.\”
\”But I’m being told if it’s overbroad, it may hamper some of the security agencies, so perhaps there may be an exception to the exception or exception to your proposal just in case there are emergencies,\” said Angara, the Senate Committee on Finance chairperson.
Hontiveros pledged that her proposal, at the proper time, would not pertain to security agencies with clear national defense and public safety mandates and expertise, but only to civilian agencies lacking those directives.
Where is this coming from?
Currently, under the special provision of the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Contingent Fund is prohibited from being used for the purchase of motor vehicles.
The proposed ₱13 billion Contingent Fund will cover funding requirements of new or urgent activities or projects of national government agencies, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, and local government units that need to be paid during the year, according to the NEP.
Hontiveros floated her suggestion after the Office of the Vice President (OVP), under incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte, spent ₱125 million in confidential funds in 2022 even if her office was not allocated with the expense under that year’s national budget.
RELATED: Petitioners ask SC to declare ₱125-M transfer for OVP’s confidential funds unconstitutional
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman explained that the ₱125 million released — not transferred — to the OVP came from the ₱7 billion budget set aside as Contingent Fund for 2022, and was \”intended to support the OVP’s Good Governance Engagements and Social Services Projects.\” The Office of the Executive Secretary explained it was \”legal.\”
During his interpellation, Sen. Koko Pimentel asked: \”Theoretically speaking, if we allow that, the ₱13 billion Contingent Fund (for 2024) is convertible to a confidential and or intelligence fund?\”
\”Theoretically speaking, yes, but practically speaking, it will not happen,\” Angara replied. \”Because that Contingent Fund is meant for all contingencies that may occur for all agencies of government.\”
Pimentel, the Senate minority leader, also argued that according to official documents, the movement of the ₱125 million was actually a \”transfer\” and not a \”release.\”
Speaking on behalf of the DBM, Angara said it was an \”error in their use of the word ‘transfer.’\”
\”They’re changing the terminology for 2024 to be more precise,\” he added.
House recommendations on CIF adopted
The Senate adopted in its committee report the House of Representatives’ recommendations for the proposed 2024 budget, including the suggested total amount of CIF, Angara said.
He said the amount was reduced to ₱9.82 billion from the 2024 NEP’s ₱10.1 billion.
The House’s 2024 General Appropriations Bill has been transmitted to the Senate. Under the lower chamber’s version, the Duterte-led OVP and the Department of Education were among those given “zero confidential funds.”
RELATED: Estrada refutes report 9 senators want OVP, DepEd confidential funds back
