Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, August 24 slammed the government’s move to seek P4.5-billion worth of confidential and intelligence funds for President Duterte under the proposed P5.024-trillion budget for 2022.

At a time of a COVID-19 pandemic, Hontiveros said such funds could be used to improve the government’s response against a global health crisis that has rendered thousands of Filipinos jobless and poor.

“The President, being the Chief Executive, is expected to be sensible, sensitive and considerate about the urgent needs of the time,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Sa panahong pataas ng pataas ang kaso ng COVID-19, isa-isang napupuno ang mga ospital, at marami ang hindi makapaghanapbuhay (At a time COVID-19 cases are increasing, and hospitals are overwhelmed and many people cannot work), it is but common sense to adapt and make adjustments to pass a COVID-responsive budget,” she lamented.

“Sino ang hindi magtataka na sa kabila ng nakasisilaw na mga problemang ito ay sa iba pa rin nakatingin ang Palasyo (Who is not surprised that even with this huge problem, the Palace officials are still looking at a different direction)?” she pointed out.

Hontiveros said the P4.5-billion budget could be reallocated for the improvement of health facilities, and or be used as funds for special benefits for the country’s frontliners

The funds can also be used to generate job creation for displaced workers, support micro, small and medium enterprises heavily affected by the lockdowns, or cash aid for those who permanently have lost their jobs and livelihood.

“Habang lahat ng Pilipino ay nagsasakripisyo, dapat yung budget ng Palasyo, magpakita rin ng pagsasakripisyo (While Filipinos are doing their part sacrificing, the Palace’s budget should also show some semblance of sacrifice),” she said.

“Tutal, nasa kontrol naman ng Palasyo ang iba pang intelligence arms ng pamahalaan na may kanya kanya rin sariling budgets (Anyway, the Palace has control over the intelligence arms of other government agencies which also have their respective budgets),” she stressed.

The Senate earlier received from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) copies of the proposed 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said a bulk of next year’s appropriation would go to the government’s COVID-19 response.

Senators have vowed to scrutinize the proposed allocations under the NEP following reports of underspending, questionable procurements and anomalies in the handling of public funds.