Senator JV Ejercito on Friday expressed concern over the proposed 2024 nationwide finances as he observed that requests for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) have gotten a pattern amongst authorities companies.
“Sa ibang agencies, tatanungin muna natin kung saan nila gagamitin. Why do they need intelligence funds? Bakit parang nauso na, bakit lahat biglang humihingi na ng intelligence funds? We will ask them during the budget season for what purpose,”Ejercito instructed reporters in an internet interview.
The senator made the comment after Malacanang submitted the P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024 to the House of Representatives.
The proposed finances measure contains P10.142 billion confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) that are throughout authorities companies for the fiscal yr 2024.
Broken down, the most important share of the proposed CIF will go to the Office of the President with P4.51 billion. The Department of Agriculture (DA)—likewise headed by the president—can be set to get P50 million.
The proposed CIF additionally contains P500 million for the Office of the Vice President Sara Duterte, together with P150 million for the Department of Education (DepEd) which she additionally leads.
Other departments with CIF are the National Defense (DND) with P1.89 billion, the Interior and Local Government with P906.62 million, Justice with P471.29 million, Information and Communications Technology with P300 million, Finance with P111 million, Foreign Affairs with P50 million, Social Welfare and Development with P18 million, Transportation with P15.6 million, and Environment and Natural Resources with P13.95 million.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman stated the P120 million improve within the CIF was as a result of extra allocation for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Presidential Security Group, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
The Budget chief famous that the confidential and intelligence fund can be at a “decreasing trend,” citing its share of share within the nationwide finances within the earlier years:
- 0.215% – 2018
- 0.192% – 2019
- 0.235% – 2020
- 0.212% – 2021
- 0.183% – 2022
- 0.190% – 2023
- 0.176% – 2024
While Ejercito took particular discover of the CIF requests of different authorities companies, the senator stated a few of them are justifiable, notably the confidential funds for the DICT.
“Titingan natin kung talaga ba ito ay for cybercrime, anti-fraud. Marami na rin nabibiktima. This is our new enemy right now. Kung doon nila gagamitin, I think, that’s justifiable kasi ang tinitira ng mga scammers na ito ‘yung mga vulnerable, senior citizens, ‘yung mga bata,”he stated.
The lawmaker then shared that even his personal son was just lately victimized by scammers.
“This is a new crime that we are now facing. Because of the advent of technology, ang dami na hong cases of cybercrime, ang daming fraud,” he added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
