House removes confidential funds for OVP, 4 other agencies

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday announced it had stripped the Office of the Vice President and four other agencies of confidential funds under the proposed 2024 national budget. 

A House panel decided to reallocate the P1.23 billion in confidential funds for the OVP, the Departments of Education, Information and Communications Technology, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs to the agencies in charge of monitoring and protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

These are the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 million), National Security Council (P100 million), Philippine Coast Guard (P200 million for intelligence activities and ammunition), and Department of Transportation (P381.8 million for airport development/expansion of Pag-asa Island Airport).

Instead of confidential funds, these agencies will receive these amounts for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE):

• P30 million for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
• P25 million for DICT
• P30 million for DFA
• P50 million for the Office of the Ombudsman and
• P150-million for DepEd’s Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education

It’s unclear whether the Senate is going to follow the House’s lead.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. concurrently leads the DA, while Vice President Sara Duterte runs the OVP and DepEd. 

Duterte has come under fire for asking for and receiving P125 million worth of confidential funds to support the creation of the OVP’s satellite offices for 2022, even though the OVP does not primarily deal with national security. The Commission on Audit said the OVP allocation was spent in just 11 days last December.

Last week, Duterte slammed critics of confidential funds, saying these are necessary to maintain peace and order in the country.

“Such actions go against the protection and well-being of the citizenry. Those who seek to compromise the security and development of our nation jeopardize the very fabric of our society and hinder our progress,” she said.

“Tandaan ninyo—kung sino man ang kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” she added.