House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Department of National Defense (DND) has told a House panel that the realigned confidential funds under the proposed national budget of 2024 would have a significant impact on their bid to further secure national interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Attending a hearing of the Special Committee on West Philippine Sea (WPS) Tuesday, Nov. 7 were PCG Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela and DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio Madriaga. 

Mandaluyong City lone district Rep. Neptali Gonzales II chairs the panel. 

During the panel proceedings, Rizal 2nd district Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco III recalled that the chamber decided during the recent budget deliberations to reallocate P1.23 billion in confidential funds to security and intelligence agencies amid he escalating tensions in the WPS. 

"The House of Representatives led by Speaker, Speaker Martin Romualdez, ,made a decision to reprioritizatize or even realign certain items items the budget, specifically the confidential funds of certain agencies to agencies that are more attuned or more concerned with national security, our national defense," Tanjuatco said. 

When Tanjuatco asked the attending resource persons about the potential impact of the funds that would be reallocated to them, Tarriela said: "I think the intention of the House of Representatives and also with the Senate to boost our funding would definitely support our operational capability in performing our role in the WPS." 

"I definitely believe that it has a tremendous impact to the [PCG] in performing our mandate not just in the WPS but in other parts of the country," added Tarriela. 

Madriaga gave a similar answer after he was asked the same question by the Rizal solon. 

“Of course sir, any addition to our resources or allocation would be a welcome development for us and you can be sure sir that these additional resources will be put in to good use on defending our sovereignty, sovreign rights and jurisdiction and our national integrity,” he said. 

Earlier in the hearing, Gonzales cited the "frequent incidents prompted by Chinese vessels in the WPS" as a "serious cause for concern". 

The panel chairman advised the security agencies like the PCG and DND to communicate clearly to the national government what they need in order to perform their mandate better. This, as everybody waits for the enactment of the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB), or national budget. 

“The budget for 2024 is still in progress…in the light of the fact that there was a decision of the House led by the honorable Speaker to realign certain confidential and intelligence fund of several agencies to concerns particularly of our capability and in protecting our right in the [WPS], may we suggest to you that as soon as possible, you communicate," Gonzales said. 

“The combined amount may not be enough to cover all your needs so it is very important for us to know…which of these needs are more, in keeping to your immediate priorities...so that perhaps through the bicam we can make certain adjustments," he explained. 

The House leadership earlier removed the confidential funds of several civilian agencies to augment the budgets of more "worthy" agencies in connection with the WPS issue. 

These additional funds were allocated to the following agencies as a result of the realignment: P100 million intelligence fund for the PCG, P100 million for the acquisition of ammunition of the PCG, P300 million for the National Intelligence Coordinating Council (NICC), P100 million for the National Security Council (NSC); and P351 million for the airport development program on Pag-asa Island.