Confidential, intel funds cut in 2025 budget

THE budget for confidential and intelligence funds was reduced to P10.2 billion in the executive branch's proposed 2025 national budget.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a press conference at the House of Representatives on Monday the proposed budget was 16 percent smaller than the P12.378-billion Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF) allocation for 2024.

Pangandaman, who attended the official submission of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House, said the proposals for CIF that the DBM had received from various agencies totaled P11.39 billion, «but we approved only P10.29 billion.»

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman talks to the media during a press conference in Manila, Monday, as she discusses the proposed 2025 National Expenditure Program. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Based on the copy of the proposed 2025 budget, the CIF allocation for the Office of the President (OP) was P4.56 billion.

Allocations for other government offices were:

– P1.8 billion for the Department of National Defense

Advertisement

– Over P900 million for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency or NICA

– P806.03 million for the Philippine National Police

– P579.4 million for the Department of Justice

– P500 million for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

Advertisement

– P405 million for the Department of Transportation

– P250 million for the National Security Council

– P79.5 million for the Department of Finance

– P60 million for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity

Advertisement

– P51.4 million for the Office of the Ombudsman

– P10 million for the Commission on Audit

– P7.5 million for the Anti-Money Laundering Council

– P4 million for the Games and Amusements Board

Advertisement

– P1 million for the Commission on Human Rights.

The Constitution requires the President to submit to Congress within 30 days «from the opening of every regular session, as the basis of the general appropriations bill, a budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.»

All appropriation bills originate in the House, but the Senate is allowed to propose or concur with amendments.

The