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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider P50-M confidential funds to be used vs agricultural smuggling, DA tells solons

P50-M confidential funds to be used vs agricultural smuggling, DA tells solons

Published Aug 28, 2023 01:56 pm

At A Glance

  • Where will the Department of Agriculture (DA) spend its P50-million confidential fund under their 2024 budget? In the fight against agricultural smuggling. 

Transforming Ilocos farmers into agri-entrepreneurs amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Where will the Department of Agriculture (DA) spend its P50-million confidential fund under their 2024 budget? In the fight against agricultural smuggling. 

DA officials gave this answer during the agency's recent hearing on their proposed budget for next year. 

Unsurprisingly, a member of the Makabayan bloc in ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro grilled the DA officials headed by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on the unusual allocation.

"Bakit po ang DA ay nagkaroon ng confidential fund?...naghapag ang Pangulo ng P50-million confidential fund (Why did the DA get a confidential fund?...the President asked for a P50-million confidential fund). Mr. Chair, this is the first time na ang DA ay nagkaroon ng confidential fund,” Castro said. 

Panganiban answered: "Well, we have a confidential fund but that would be used for the antii-smuggling purposes.” 

The official sought a supporting statement from DA Assistant Secretary James Layug, who gave it by saying, "I think that was included for next year's budget to support the anti-agricultural smuggling effort of the department together with the other law enforcement agencies." 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is the concurrent DA secretary, a position he has held since his first day in Malacañang on June 30, 2022. 

Confidential funds have always been a sticking point for administration critics like the Makabayan bloc because of their lump sum nature. The perception is that lump sum allocations in the national budget are prone to abuse. 

When Castro asked the DA officials if national security issues were now part of the agency’s mandate, Layug replied, "Being part and member of the National Intelligence Coordinating Board, which addresses yung (the) anti-agricultural smuggling….food security being part of the national security concern, that is a component of that.” 

The House deputy minority leader disagreed and told Layug that such confidential funds are better left with the National Security Agency or the Bureau of Customs (BOC), since they referred to agricultural smuggling. 

Castro requested the DA to submit the details of where the confidential funds will be used, to which Layug said "Yes." 

Agricultural smuggling has been identified as among the causes of price hikes among basic goods.

 

Related Tags

act teachers party-list department of agriculture FRANCE CASTRO
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