Ni Liezelle Soriano

TULUYAN nang inalis ng House of Representatives ang P1.23 bilyong halaga ng confidential funds ng limang ahensiya, kabilang na ang Office of the Vice President (OVP) at Department of Education (DepEd), sa ilalim ng panukalang P5.768-trillion budget para sa 2024.

Sinabi ni House Committee on Appropriations senior vice chairperson Stella Quimbo na nangyari ito matapos sumang-ayon ang House small panel na i-reallocate ang P194 bilyon mula sa panukalang 2024 national budget para sa 2024 — kasama ang P1.23 bilyon na confidential funds.

“Our panel introduced P194 billion worth of institutional amendments. The main goal was to rationalize the allocation of resources to fight inflation, invest in human capital and in our country’s future,” ani Quimbo.

“We believe that the House of Representatives is on the right side of history,” dagdag pa niya.

Bukod sa OVP at DepEd, ang iba pang ahensiya na nawalan ng confidential fund allocation sa ilalim ng panukalang amendments ng Kamara ay ang Department of Agriculture, Department of Information and Communications Technology, at Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ililipat naman ang P1.23 bilyon sa mga sumusunod:

  • P300-M sa National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
  • P100-M sa National Security Council
  • P200-M sa Philippine Coast Guard para sa intelligence activities
  • P381.8-M Department of Transportation para sa airport development

Si Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio ang kalihim ng DepEd.

Sa isang pagtitipon sa Butuan City, magugunitang sinikap depensahan ni Duterte-Carpio ang importansiya ng confidential funds.

“I stand before you to shed light on the crucial role of confidential funds in ensuring the security and development of our beloved nation. In the pursuit of progress, it is imperative that we prioritize the well-being of our citizens and safeguard the peace and order that underpins our society,” aniya noong 122nd Police Service Anniversary ng Police Regional Office 13 sa Butuan City.

Wala pang komento ang Vice Presidente tungkol sa pinakahuling kaganapan sa confidential funds.

(ai/mnm)