Gobyerno, inilaan ang P9.2 billion para sa confi, intel funds sa 2024

TINATAYANG may P9.2 billion ang inilaan para sa confidential at intelligence funds para sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno para sa fiscal year 2024.

“For 2024, the confidential fund — this is across all agencies — is P4.3 billion, and the intel is P4.9 billion, and I think the amount is the same as 2023 level, almost the same,” ayon kay Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

“Broken down, among the biggest allotments are those for the Office of the President with P4.5 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P1.7 billion, the Office of the Vice President with P500 million, and the Department of Education (DepEd) with P150 million,” ayon sa DBM.

“Alam niyo po, ‘yung confidential and intel funds, meron naman pong guidelines ‘yan from COA (Commission on Audit) on how to use the funds,” ayon sa Kalihim.

“Hindi naman po siya budget na pagkabigay, they can disburse it and use it, meron din pong dokumento na sina-submit po sa COA then may breakdown din po ‘yan when we request the budget, so there’s full transparency when we request for these funds” dagdag na wika nito.

Ang pigura ay ibinahagi ng Kalihim sa isinagawang  turnover ceremony ng  P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024 sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.

Ang nasabing panukala ay sumasalamin sa 9.5% na pagtaas mula sa  appropriations ngayong taon.

Nakasaad  sa  general provisions section  ng nakalipas na  NEP na ang  intelligence funds ay iyong “related to intelligence information gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel, and intelligence practitioners” mayroong direktang epekto sa national security.

Samantala, ang confidential funds ay iyong  “related to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support the mandate or operations of the agency.”

“The proposed national budget for FY 2024 shall continue to prioritize expenditure items that promote social and economic transformation through infrastructure development, food security, digital transformation, and human capital development,” ayon naman sa kalatas ng DBM.  (Daris Jose)