Realignment of intel funds to PCG, PN for WPS defense
By J.Lo
"Imagine, Coast Guard only has P10 million in confidential funds…other agencies of government, hundreds of millions…so I would suggest if we can transfer these to agencies that really need intelligence funds to protect us internally and externally," Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has vowed to augment confidential and intelligence funds of Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to provide them "full logistical and operational support" in fending off maritime aggression.
Zubiri did not identify exact agencies whose budget will be realigned to pump more funding into two agencies. But Senate president mentioned are "hundreds of millions" of CIFs in other agencies compared to "measly P10 million and P39.74 million" allocated to PCG and Navy, respectively.
Recent maneuvers by Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea necessitate greater "external defense capabilities" to allow PCG and Navy to patrol tense waterways, Zubiri said.
Based on Department of Budget and Management documents, PCG has only received P10 million in CIFs annually since 2009.
Senate's oversight committee on CIFs, Zubiri chairs, convened last week to begin its work of analyzing how some 30 agencies have spent their CIFs to determine if there is need for reforms in grant of secret fund.
According to its adopted rules, Senate oversight panel can examine how CIFs are used and compel heads of agencies to justify their spending. Zubiri has bared there were improper uses of these funds, such as its use to relocate informal settler families, but refused to name which agency was responsible.
Senate leader said once Senate receives proposed 2024 national budget from House of Representatives, they will push for realignments or changes in CIFs to boost intelligence capabilities of PCG and Navy.
He added that if oversight committee will explore possibility of converting some CIFs into regular line items in agency's budget.
"We will submit recommendation to plenary…we have to vote in committee if these agencies should lose or have decreased amount of intelligence funds," Zubiri said.
Zubiri previously said Office of the President (OP) has already submitted comprehensive report on how it spends its CIFs but declined to comment if Office of Vice President (OVP) has also done so.
OP stands to get P2.25 billion in confidential funds while P2.31 billion will be allotted for intelligence funds in proposed 2024 budget. In total, these will make up about 43% of proposed budget of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's office.
Meanwhile, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte –Carpio has asked for P500 million in confidential funds for OVP and another P150 million for DepEd in proposed 2024 budget.
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