The Department or Budget and Management (DBM) has defended the over P4.5-billion allocation of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget for the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman justified the CIF allocation for the Office of the President next year during the hearings of the House Committee on Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“He is the President, commander-in-chief, and the overall architect of national security and foreign policy in the Philippines,” said Pangandaman.
“These roles require substantial resources to ensure the President can make informed decisions and effectively lead the nation,” added the Budget chief.
Based on the NEP documents, the OP’s CIF is set at P4.56 billion. It is broken down to P2.25 billion confidential fund and P2.31 billion intelligence fund.
This proposed CIF for the President’s office is the same for 2024.
Pangandaman said that the OP’s CIF has been consistent at P4.56 billion since 2022 highlighting the necessity of these funds for maintaining national security.
“The consistency in the CIF allocation reflects the ongoing need to support the President’s mandate in overseeing national security and foreign policy. These funds are essential for addressing urgent security challenges, conducting critical intelligence operations, and implementing policies that protect our nation’s interests,” said the DBM chief.
She said the CIF is crucial for the President to engage in high-level decision-making, manage crises, and ensure that the Philippines remains secure and resilient against internal and external threats.
Without these funds, Pangandaman said the President’s ability to perform these duties effectively would be significantly hampered.
The CIF in the 2025 National Expenditure Program has decreased by 16% compared to the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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